Cancer cell identification marker and cancer cell proliferation inhibitor

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an identification marker which can be utilized for detection of various human cancer cells and whose expression closely relates to malignant alteration of cells, and compositions for human cancer treatment which are based on suppression of cancer cell proliferation through inhibition of expression of the identification marker. The marker is human heterochromatin protein 1γ (HP1γ), and the compositions for cancer treatment comprises one or more agents which suppresses the expression of human HP1γ gene, such as siRNAs to human HP1γ.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cancer cell identification marker, a method for identification of cancer cells, cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents, a composition for cancer treatment which contains one or more of the agents, a method for inhibition of cancer cell proliferation using the composition, a method for treatment of cancer in a human and other mammalian animals, and a method of screening for cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents.

BACKGROUND ART

In recent years, so-called life-style related diseases such as cancer, heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, etc., have come to account for a major part of mortality in Japan, instead of infectious diseases like pneumonia and tuberculoses, which were dominant up to the early years of the Showa Era. Among others, lethality rate associated to cancer continuously showed a rapid increase, and has been ranking the top cause of death since around 1980 up to the present. Though some difference are found between sex and age, cancer has been found to develop in any organ or tissue of the body, including the brain, skin, blood, bronchi, lungs, stomach, liver, colon, uterus, breasts, pancreas, prostate gland, etc.

To diagnose cancer in such a variety of organs and tissues, while various measures have been employed, such as X-ray CT, MRI, ultrasonography, etc., identification markers for cancer cells also have come to be in use in clinical laboratory tests in recent years. Cancer cell identification markers are, for example, proteins produced by corresponding types of cancer cells, and they can be used to determine whether cancer cells are present in a sample, and also to know the type of the cancer cells which occur. In performing diagnosis of cancer based on a cancer identification marker, it is enough just to sample some cells from an organ or tissue to be diagnosed and then to examine the cells for any presence of that marker, by one of any convenient means, like antibody. It thus contributes to the convenience and reliability of the test, and also eases the burden on the patient as well. However, though some cancer identification markers can be used for detection of several different types of cells, the other, majority of markers are exclusively for a certain specific type of cancer cells. Thus it is in general necessary to use different identification markers in accordance with different organs or tissues to be examined. This increases the costs in preparing detection reagents corresponding to various identification markers, and, moreover, requires a change reagents and modification of the procedure during a detection process, thereby resulting as a whole in somewhat greater burden on the person who are engaged in diagnosis.

That there are a number of different types of cancers has also been posing a problem in cancer treatment by administration of drugs (chemotherapy). Namely, as its mechanism of development generally is intrinsic to each type of cancer, it is required in conducting chemotherapy to select the most suitable drugs for the type of the cancer about to be treated. Therefore, a wide range of drugs must be in stock to cope with a various types of cancers, and this poses a substantial burden due to cost increases and to the workload required in preparing drug formulations and giving treatment (see Non-patent Documents 1-8). Furthermore, there is a more serious problem in chemotherapy, that is, acquisition of resistance by cancer cells to the drugs that have been employed, and consequent reduction in efficacy of the treatment with them. In the etiology of cancer, a defect in cell differentiation is considered to be the major factor (see Non-patent Document 3). Thus, there would be possibilities of blocking cancer cell proliferation if a defect in cell differentiation (dedifferentiation) could be prevented.

On the other hand, a phenomenon called RNA interference (RNAi) has now been found in living organisms in common, from plants, insects, protozoa to mammalian animals, etc. RNAi is the phenomenon that a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which consists of a short sequence homologous to the mRNA produced by a target gene and a sequence complementary to the former, induces decomposition of that mRNA in the cell, thereby inhibiting the expression of the target gene.

It is assumed that regulation of the expression of a gene is done based on the formation of siRNA (small interfering RNA) and miRNA (microRNA, single-stranded RNA consisting of 21-23 bases) by the action of an enzyme “dicer”, an endoribonuclease (see Non-patent Document 9). It is thought that in animals siRNAs take part in the cleavage of their respective target mRNAs (see Non-patent Document 10), and that miRNAs prevent the translation of their respective target mRNAs (see Non-patent Document 11). It has been found that either an siRNA or miRNA forms a complex with common proteins to convert them into an active form, which then was identified as RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) containing as components a plurality of such proteins (see Non-patent document 12). So far, hundreds of miRNAs have been isolated and identified from animals and plants, and the physiological functions of at least four animal-derived miRNAs have been elucidated.

In 2001, it was reported that a 21-base, short double-stranded RNA induced RNAi effects more efficiently than others in mammalian animals. RNAi thus has been expected to be useful as a therapeutic means for intractable disorders such as cancer, viral diseases and neovascularization. In particular, siRNA has been found to be capable of efficiently decomposing and eliminating a certain mRNA at a very low concentration (1 nM), suggesting the presence of some enzymatic amplification.

Long double-stranded RNAs induce interferon synthesis and non-specific mRNA decomposition (interferon response). On the other hand, short dsRNAs inhibit also the expression of other genes than the one whose expression is intended to be suppressed in the case where their sequences are the same as or highly homologous to the mRNA of those genes (off-target effect).

Considering these, it is desirable that no such mRNA should exist that a given siRNA strongly binds to, among the mRNAs derived from other genes than the one whose expression is intended to be suppressed, or that, even if such a mRNA exists, it is the mRNA derived from a gene having a function similar to the very gene suppression of whose expression is intended. It is because, in such cases, it can be prevented that the siRNA should exhibit a wide-ranging non-specific suppressive effect on other functions than is intended.

[Non-patent Document 1] Zhang, C. L., McKinsey, T. A. & Olson, E. N. Association of class II histonedeacetylases with heterochromatin protein 1: potential role for histonemethylation in control of muscle differentiation. Mol Cell Biol 22, 7302-12 (2002) [Non-patent Document 2] Cammas, F., Herzog, M., Lerouge, T., Chambon, P. & Losson, R. Association of the transcriptional corepressor TIF1beta with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1): an essential role for progression through differentiation. Genes Dev 18, 2147-60 (2004) [Non-patent Document 3] Tenen, D. G. Disruption of differentiation in human cancer: AML shows the way. Nat RevCancer 3, 89-101 (2003) [Non-patent Document 4] Gilbert, N. et al. Formation of facultative heterochromatin in the absence of HP1. EmboJ 22, 5540-50 (2003) [Non-patent Document 5] Olins, D. E. & Olins, A. L. Granulocyte heterochromatin: defining the epigenome. BMCCell Biol 6, 39 (2005) [Non-patent Document 6] Popova, E. Y., Claxton, D. F., Lukasova, E., Bird, P. I. & Grigoryev, S. A. Epigeneticheterochromatin markers distinguish terminally differentiated leukocytes from incompletely differentiated leukemia cells in human blood. Exp Hematol 34, 453-62 (2006) [Non-patent Document 7] Arney, K. L. & Fisher, A. G. Epigenetic aspects of differentiation. J Cell Sci 117, 4355-63 (2004) [Non-patent Document 8] Fraga, M. F. et al. Loss of acetylation at Lys16 and trimethylation at Lys20 of histoneH4 is a common hallmark of human cancer. Nat Genet 37, 391-400 (2005)

[Non-patent Document 9] Bernstein, E. et al., Nature 409: 363-366 (2001) [Non-patent Document 10] Elbashir, S. M. et al., EMBO J 20:6877-6888 (2001) [Non-patent Document 11] Xu, P. et al., Curr Biol 13: 790-795 (2003) [Non-patent Document 12] Martinet, J., et al., Cell 110:533-542 (2002) DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Against the above-mentioned background, an objective of the present invention is to provide a means which is commonly applicable for detection of cancer cells of a variety of origins.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents and compositions for cancer treatment both of which are commonly applicable to a wide variety of cancers.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a novel method of screening for proliferation inhibitor agents of a wide variety of cancers.

In the study in search of a method for identification of cancer cells and for treatment of cancer, the present inventors focused on the heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) family, which are proteins involved in chromatin packaging and gene silencing. There are three homologues (α, β, γ) of the HP1 family in mammals, of which HP1α and β are present in heterochromatin, while HP1γ is present both in heterochromatin and euchromatin. Therefore, though it is thought to differ functionally from HP1α and HP1β, the function of HP1γ has not been known yet (Non-patent Document 1, Non-patent Document 2). The present inventors performed a study focusing on the relation between HP1γ and cell differentiation.

As a result, it was discovered that HP1γ protein, which is detectable in undifferentiated normal cells, gradually decreases in its expression levels as the cells differentiate, and becomes no longer detectable in fully differentiated normal cells; and further that HP1γ protein has not been lost but is expressed in various cancer cells, i.e., undifferentiated abnormal cells. On the basis of this finding, the present inventors have come to find that cancer cells can be distinguished from normal cells by utilizing HP1γ protein as an identification marker, i.e., by using its expression as an index. Furthermore, the present inventors surprisingly found that though its mechanism is yet unknown, proliferation of cancer cells can be potently inhibited by inhibiting the expression of HP1γ gene in those cells. The present invention was completed on the basis of these discoveries.

Thus, the present invention provides what follows.

1. A method for identifying a cell presented for examination as either being a cancer cell or a non-cancer cell, comprising the steps of

detecting expression of HP1γ in the cell presented for examination, and

identifying the cell as being a cancer cell if expression of HP1γ is detected in the cell, and as being a non-cancer cell if no expression of HP1γ is detected in the cell.

2. The method according to 1 above, wherein the cancer cell is an epithelial cancer cell and/or a non-epithelial cancer cell of a mammalian animal including a human, and wherein the HP1γ is HP1γ of the mammalian animal.

3. The method according to 1 or 2 above, wherein the cell presented for examination is a human cell and the HP1γ is human HP1γ.

4. A cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent consisting of an inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression.

5. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to 4 above, wherein the cancer cell is an epithelial cancer cell and/or a non-epithelial cancer cell of a mammalian animal including a human, and wherein the HP1γ is HP1γ of the mammalian animal.

6. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to 4 or 5 above, wherein the inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression is an siRNA specific to HP1γ gene or an antisense DNA specific to HP1γ gene.

7. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to one of 4 to 6 above, wherein the cancer cell is a human cancer cell, and wherein the HP1γ gene is human HP1γ gene.

8. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to 7 above, wherein the inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression is an siRNA comprising at least one of the double-stranded RNAs each of which comprises a corresponding RNA strand set forth in the 5′ to 3′ direction in the following Tables 2A to 1F;

9. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to 8 above, wherein the double-stranded RNAs are selected from the group consisting of the double-stranded RNAs set forth as #5, #17, #35, #62, #89, #101, #102, #103, #104, #105 and #106 in Tables 2A to 1F.

10. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to 8 above, wherein the double-stranded RNAs are selected from the group consisting of the double-stranded RNAs set forth as #17, #62 and #89 in Tables 2A to 1F.

11. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to one of 8 to 10 above, wherein the siRNA has two-base overhangs on its both ends.

12. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to one of 8 to 11 above, wherein each of the overhangs is on the 3′ end of each of the strands forming the double-stranded RNA.

13. A composition for the treatment of cancer in a mammal including a human comprising, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to one of 6 to 12 above.

14. The composition for the treatment of cancer according to 13 above, wherein the cancer is cancer in a human, the HP1γ gene is human HP1γ gene, and the inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression is an siRNA specific to human HP1γ gene.

15. The composition for the treatment of cancer in a human comprising, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to one of 8 to 12 above.

16. A method for the treatment of cancer in a mammal including a human comprising administering an effective amount of one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to one of 6 to 12 above, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to the mammal including a human in need thereof.

17. A method for the treatment of cancer in a human comprising administering an effective amount of one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to one of 8 to 12 above, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to the human in need thereof.

18. Use of one of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to 8 to 12 above, for the production of a composition for the treatment of human cancer.

19. A method of screening for cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents comprising the steps of;

bringing part of cancer cells into contact with candidate compounds,

separately detecting expression of HP1γ gene in those cancer cells which were brought into contact with the candidate compounds and in those cancer cells which were not brought into contact with a candidate compound,

determining whether or not HP1γ gene expression was inhibited in the cancer cells which were brought into contact with the candidate compounds by comparing the amount of expression of HP1γ gene in the cancer cells which were brought into contact with the candidate compounds with that in the cancer cells which were not brought into contact a candidate compound,

selecting, as cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents, those candidate compounds which were brought into contact with those cancer cells in which inhibition of the expression was found.

THE EFFECT OF INVENTION

The present invention as identified above can be used in pathological examination and clinical diagnosis to distinguish not only some particular types cancers but also a wide variety of cancer cells from normal cells. Further, the present invention can be used to inhibit proliferation of not only some particular cancers but also of a wide variety of cancer cells, and therefore to treat cancers in a mammal including a human, in particular human cancers. Furthermore, the present invention enables screening for compounds which inhibit not only some particular cancers but also a wide variety of cancer cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(A) is a set of autoradiograms showing the expression profiles of different proteins (HP1α, HP1αβ, HP1γ) in differentiation-induced 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes and human preadipocytes in one of the examples of the present invention; FIG. 1(B) a set of autoradiograms showing the expression of HP1γ protein in 3T3-L1 in another example of the present invention; and FIG. 1(C) a set of photographs showing 3T3-L1 cells subjected to oil red-staining in still another example of the present invention.

FIG. 2(A) is a set of autoradiograms showing the time courses of histone modifications in 3T3-L1 cells during cell division in still another example of the present invention, FIG. 2(B) is a set of autoradiograms showing the time courses of the expression of HP1γ protein and of histone modifications, and FIG. 2(C) a set of autoradiograms showing the levels of histone modifications and HP1γ expression, after treated with siRNA specific to HP1 genes.

FIG. 3 is a set of photographs showing the result of immunostaining of tissues in still another example of the present invention.

FIG. 4-1 is a set of photographs showing the result of immunostaining of malignant tumor cells in still another example of the present invention.

FIG. 4-2 is a set of photographs sowing the result of immunostaining of malignant tumor cells in still another example of the present invention.

FIG. 4-3 is a set of photographs sowing the result of immunostaining of malignant tumor cells in still another example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the number (×10⁴ cells) of viable cells of various tumors.

FIG. 6 shows the result of western blotting exhibiting the inhibitory effect of siRNA of the present invention on HP1γ expression in a human cancer cell line.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the therapeutic effect of siRNA of the present invention in human cancer-transplanted nude mice.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Cancer Cell Identification Marker and Method for Identification

The cancer cell identification marker according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises HP1γ protein. And the method of identification of cancer cells according to the present invention is characterized in that it detects HP1γ protein in the cells. The nucleotide sequence for HP1γ gene is registered with GenBank accession NM_(—)016587 (SEQ ID NO:125), within which the sequence consisting of 152-703 is the coding sequence (CDS) for HP1γ protein, and the sequence for HP1γ protein is registered with GenBank accession NP_(—)057671.2 (SEQ ID NO:126).

According to the present invention, it is possible to detect HP1γ protein contained in the cell and thereby identify the cells in which HP1γ protein occurs as being cancer cells, thereby allowing to distinguish between cancer cells normal cells (normally differentiated cells).

There is no particular limitation regarding the types of cancer cells which can be identified by the method according to the present invention, and they include epithelial cancer cells, non-epithelial cancer cells, as well as those of solid and non-solid cancers. Cancers consisting of epithelial cancer cells include, for example, lung cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, uterine cervical cancer, uterine cancer (e.g., laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, lingual cancer, etc.), colon cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and the like; cancers consisting of aforementioned non-epithelial cancer cells (sarcoma) include, for example, liposarcoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, angiosarcoma, and the like. Cells of other cancers also can be identified by the present invention, including, for example, basalioma, Merkel cell carcinoma, myxoma, non-small cell tumor, oat cell tumor, papilloma, bronchiolar tumor, bronchial tumor; leukemia such as B cell tumor, mixed cell tumor, null cell tumor, T cell tumor; HTLV-II related tumors such as lymphocyte acute leukemia, lymphocytic chronic tumor, mastocytoma, and myeloma; histiocytic malignant tumors such as Hodgkin's tumor, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, malignant melanoma, mesothelioma, Ewing sarcoma, periosteoma, adenofibroma, adenolymphoma, craniopharyngioma, dysgerminoma, mesenchymoma, mesonephroma, ameloblastoma, cementoma, odontoma, thymoma, adenocarcinoma, cholangioma, cholesteatoma, cylindroma, cystic adenoma, cystic tumor, granulosa cell tumor, ovarian tumor, hepatic cancer, syringocarcinoma, islet cell tumor, Leydig cell tumor, Sertoli cell tumor, theca cell tumor, leiomyoma, myoblastoma, ependymoma, neural myoma, glioma, medulloblastoma, periosteoma, neurilemma, neuroblastoma, neuroepithelioma, neurofibroma, neuroma, paraganglioma, nonchromaffin paraganglioma, angiokeratoma, hematolymphangioma, sclerosing hemangioma, glomus tumor, angioendothelioma, lymphangioma, lymphangiomyoma, lymphagiosarcoma, pineocytoma, carcinosarcoma, colorectal sarcoma, neurofibroma and the like.

It is not limited how to detect HP1γ protein in the cells. Conventional western blotting may be employed, for example. More specifically, there is a method, for example, in which proteins are extracted from the cells to be examined which have been isolated from the living body, then are allowed to react with an HP1γ-specific antibody, and the antigen-antibody complex thus formed is detected. Examples of other methods for analysis include ELISA, immunohistochemical staining, flowcytometory, etc.

<Cancer Cell Proliferation Inhibitor Agents>

The proliferation inhibitors according to the present invention, as aforementioned, are cancer cell proliferation inhibitors which are characterized in that they contain one or more HP1γ gene expression inhibitors. As will be mentioned later, since lack of expression of HP1γ protein is closely correlated with differentiation of cells, and HP1γ protein thus is considered to work as a lock that blocks differentiation of cells, the proliferation inhibitors according to the present invention is expected to be useful for inducing cancer cells to differentiate.

In the present invention, there is no other particular limitation in the selection of aforementioned expression inhibitor compounds as far as they target the process of HP1γ gene expression and inhibit it. For example, it may inhibit any step of the process, which includes the steps of transcription of DNA into RNA, splicing of pre-mRNA (hnRNA) to form mRNA, translation of mRNA into HP1γ protein, and the like. Typical examples of such expression inhibitor compounds include siRNAs and antisenses, of which particularly preferred is siRNAs.

“SiRNA” (small interfering RNA) is a short double-stranded RNA that mediates RNA interference and generally a low molecular-weight double-stranded RNA which is 21 to 27 base long including overhangs consisting of some 2 bases (2 mer) on the both ends.

The aforementioned siRNAs that inhibit HP1γ expression are those siRNAs which contain sequences complementary to the transcript of HP1γ presented as SEQ ID NO:125, and preferably double-stranded siRNAs consisting of 21-base strands each of which consists of 19 bases that forms the double-stranded portion of the RNA, and a 2-base (2 mer) overhang on one end of each strand. In general, the overhangs are preferably 3′-end overhangs.

The term “3′-end overhang” means a nucleotide portion that projects on each 3′-end of a double-stranded RNA which is formed of two RNA strands comprising complementary sequences and paired with each other. Examples of 2-base sequences which form the aforementioned 3′-end overhangs include, but are not limited to, TT (-thymine-thymine), AU (-adenine-uracil), AG (-adenine-guanine), etc. The overhang portions of the sense strand of siRNA (having the same nucleotide sequence as that of the target transcript) and the antisense strand of it (having the complementary sequence to that of the target transcript) may be of the same or different sequences with each other. It may be, for example, that the overhang of the sense strand is AG, while the overhang of the antisense strand is AU, or that the overhang of the sense strand is AU, while the overhang of the antisense strand is AG.

Further, the 2-base sequences that may form 3′-end overhangs are not limited to the above-mentioned sequences, but they may be any one of naturally occurring nucleotide bases (adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine, and uracil) or any other naturally occurring or artificial modified bases known in the art, as far as they do not substantially affect the RNAi effect. The nucleotides forming the 3′-end overhang may generally be, but are not limited to, ribonucleotides, but deoxyribonucleotides, modified ribonucleotides, or other nucleotide analogues, as far as they do not substantially affect the RNAi effect. Still further, in the present invention, the aforementioned double stranded siRNAs, when needed, may have 5′-end overhangs instead of 3′-end ones.

Thought not limited to them, candidate sequences that may be employed as the aforementioned 19-base pair portion may be the sequences presented in Table 1 (it should be noted that only the sense sequences are presented). In the table, the column “Gene” indicates the position of the target base (corresponding to the 5′-end of the sense strand of siRNA) in the transcript (mRNA) of HP1γ gene set forth as SEQ ID NO:125 presented in Table 1 (the headmost base is assigned number 1), and the column “CDS” indicates the position number of the target base of the siRNA as counted from the headmost base of the coding sequences for the amino acids of HP1γ protein. In the table, the sequences up to the sequence presented at Gene 684 are in the coding region, and the sequences following the sequence presented at Gene 827 are in the non-coding region.

[Table 1]

TABLE 1 Gene CDS Sequence (5′→3′) SEQ ID NO:   40 CCCUUCGGAUGUGGCUUGA 2   41 CCUUCGGAUGUGGCUUGAG 3   42 CUUCGGAUGUGGCUUGAGC 4   43 UUCGGAUGUGGCUUGAGCU 5   44 UCGGAUGUGGCUUGAGCUG 6   45 CGGAUGUGGCUUGAGCUGU 7   46 GGAUGUGGCUUGAGCUGUA 8   47 GAUGUGGCUUGAGCUGUAG 9   48 AUGUGGCUUGAGCUGUAGG 10   49 UGUGGCUUGAGCUGUAGGC 11   50 GUGGCUUGAGCUGUAGGCG 12   51 UGGCUUGAGCUGUAGGCGC 13  106 CAGCUCGGAGGCGGUGAAU 14  107 AGCUCGGAGGCGGUGAAUA 15  108 GCUCGGAGGCGGUGAAUAA 16  109 CUCGGAGGCGGUGAAUAAU 17  123 AUAAUAGCUCUUCAAGUCU 18  124 UAAUAGCUCUUCAAGUCUG 19  125 AAUAGCUCUUCAAGUCUGC 20  126 AUAGCUCUUCAAGUCUGCA 21  127 UAGCUCUUCAAGUCUGCAA 22  128 AGCUCUUCAAGUCUGCAAU 23  129 GCUCUUCAAGUCUGCAAUA 24  130 CUCUUCAAGUCUGCAAUAA 25  131 UCUUCAAGUCUGCAAUAAA 26  148 AAAAAUGGCCUCCAACAAA 27  149 AAAAUGGCCUCCAACAAAA 28  150 AAAUGGCCUCCAACAAAAC 29  151 AAUGGCCUCCAACAAAACU 30  152 AUGGCCUCCAACAAAACUA 31  153 UGGCCUCCAACAAAACUAC 32  154 GGCCUCCAACAAAACUACA 33  155 GCCUCCAACAAAACUACAU 34  156 CCUCCAACAAAACUACAUU 35  157 CUCCAACAAAACUACAUUG 36  158 UCCAACAAAACUACAUUGC 37  159 CCAACAAAACUACAUUGCA 38  160 9 CAACAAAACUACAUUGCAA 39  191 40 AAACAGAAUGGAAAGAGUA 40  194 43 CAGAAUGGAAAGAGUAAAA 41  194 43 CAGAAUGGAAAGAGUAAAA 42  216 65 UUGAAGAGGCAGAGCCUGA 43  222 71 AGGCAGAGCCUGAAGAAUU 44  223 72 GGCAGAGCCUGAAGAAUUU 45  231 80 CUGAAGAAUUUGUCGUGGA 46  232 81 UGAAGAAUUUGUCGUGGAA 47  234 83 AAGAAUUUGUCGUGGAAAA 48  247 96 GGAAAAAGUACUAGAUCGA 49  253 102 AGUACUAGAUCGACGUGUA 50  259 108 AGAUCGACGUGUAGUGAAU 51  265 114 ACGUGUAGUGAAUGGGAAA 52  271 120 AGUGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAA 53  273 122 UGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAAUA 54  330 179 CUUGGGAACCUGAAGAAAA 55  360 209 CAGAAUUGAUUGAAGCGUU 56  361 210 AGAAUUGAUUGAAGCGUUU 57  388 237 UCAGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAA 58  389 238 CAGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAA 59  391 240 GAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAAAA 60  399 248 GCAAAGAAAAAGAUGGUAC 61  400 249 CAAAGAAAAAGAUGGUACA 62  441 290 GUGAAUCUGAUGACAGCAA 63  453 302 ACAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGAA 64  453 302 ACAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGAA 65  461 310 UCAAAGAAGAAAAGAGAUG 66  469 318 GAAAAGAGAUGCUGCUGAC 67  472 321 AAGAGAUGCUGCUGACAAA 68  482 331 GCUGACAAACCAAGAGGAU 69  484 333 UGACAAACCAAGAGGAUUU 1  541 390 AGACAGCAGUGGAGAAUUG 70  566 415 CUCAUGAAAUGGAAAGAUU 71  594 443 CAGACUUGGUGCUGGCGAA 72  608 457 GCGAAAGAGGCAAAUAUGA 73  609 458 CGAAAGAGGCAAAUAUGAA 74  684 533 CAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUA 75  827 UGAAAGUAGCGUUGGAAGA 76  936 CAUUUGAUACCAUGGUAUA 77  996 GGGAAAUGUCCAUAGUCAU 78  997 GGAAAUGUCCAUAGUCAUU 79 1020 AGUCAAAACUUGUGUUCUC 80 1196 GCCAUUAUUCCAAGCAAAA 81 1219 AGAUAAUCCCUUCAAGUUA 82 1220 GAUAAUCCCUUCAAGUUAA 83 1258 CCAUACAUUUCAAGUGAAA 84 1346 GCAAAAUUCCUAAAAGGAA 85 1404 GAUGAGGAAACUAGACAAA 86 1409 GGAAACUAGACAAAUGCUA 87 1417 GACAAAUGCUAGUGUGUUU 88 1487 GGGCCAUUCCUUAGCAAAA 89 1576 AAACCUAAUCAGAUGGUUA 90 1584 UCAGAUGGUUAGAGGUGUU 91 1590 GGUUAGAGGUGUUGGCAGU 92 1621 GUCAUAAAUGUGUGAACAA 93 1719 CUUUACUGGUUCAGCAAAA 94 1730 CAGCAAAAGCCAGGAAGAA 95 1732 GCAAAAGCCAGGAAGAACA 96 1799 UGUAAAUACUGGUGAACAG 97

Within the nucleotide sequence of the transcript (mRNA) of HP1γ including the nucleotide sequences listed in Table 1, every 19-base fragment sequence starting from each position was examined as to whether the short RNA of 19-base pairs having the same sequence as the fragment sequence is (a) expected to have desired potent RNAi effects on HP1γ mRNA, and whether (b), in order for avoiding the problem of off-target effects, the short RNA is highly specific to HP1γ mRNA, i.e., has only a little probability of binding to the nucleotide sequences of other genes than HP1γ. Those sequences that met the both purposes were picked out.

In the above, analysis of RNA interference with each of the sequences was done based on their Tm value, GC content, and the distribution of particular bases. Tm (melting temperature) is the temperature at which 50% of a double-stranded nucleotide will be dissociated to single-stranded nucleotides, and can be calculated according to a well known method (see e.g., Breslauer K J et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 83: 3746-3750., Rychlik W et al. (1990) Nucleic Acids Res. 18, 6409-6412. or Owczarzy R et al. (1997), Biopolymers 44: 217-239). In consideration of the distribution of particular bases, the disclosure in WO 2006/060454 (Title of invention: “Methods of Designing Small Interfering RNAs, Antisense Polynucleotides and other Hybridizing Polynucleotides”) was followed.

Selection of sequences which are highly specific to HP1γ mRNA was conducted by searching, within the sequences of the genes that are registered in GenBank (either the genes actually identified or hypothetical genes which were only predicted based on computer analysis), for those containing a sequence which is either fully identical to (19/19), differs only in a single base from (18/19), or differs only in two bases (17/19) from the sense or the antisense strand of each siRNA that has a double-stranded portion made of any one of the sequences presented above as a sense strand, and an antisense strand having a sequence complementary to it. Heaviest regard was given to the fact that no other gene than HP1γ is found that contains a sequence fully identical (19/19) to it, and less heavy regard was given to the fact that a sequence exists which differs only in one base (18/19) or in two bases (17/19), in the order. This is because as the number of the bases increases at which two sequences do not match, the probability of their forming a pair reduces rapidly, therefore making any off-target effect weaker or negligible. Again, the less heavy regard was given to such genes that are not HP1γ gene but were registered as being similar to HP1γ, for they were considered to be performing similar functions to that of HP1γ. Furthermore, the less heavy regard was given to hypothetical genes whose existence was predicted merely on computer, since their real existence had not been verified.

The following Tables 2A to 2F shows (the double-stranded portions) of 106 siRNA candidates selected through the process described above. In each double-stranded RNA portion in the Tables, the upper one is the sense sequence and the lower one the antisense sequence, both of which are presented with their 5′-end placed at the top. Further, in the Tables, the numbers in brackets indicate the number of registrations of a gene which, though being one and same gene, is registered with different accession numbers.

On both ends of each double-stranded RNA shown in Tables 2A to 2F may be attached desired overhang sequences (e.g., TT, UU and the like), and an siRNA thus obtained exhibits a strong RNA inhibitory effect, with minimized off-target effect.

TABLE 2A SEQ ID Position GC Position NO: gene CDS Candidate sequence % Score 19/19 18/19 17/19 #1 39 160 9 CAACAAAACUACAUUGCAA 31% 137 3 (2) 2 (2) 192 UUGCAAUGUAGUUUUGUUG #2 127 190 39 AAAACAGAAUGGAAAGAGU 31% 80 4 (3) 2 (2) 7 (6) 193 ACUCUUUCCAUUCUGUUUU 2 (2) #3 40 191 40 AAACAGAAUGGAAAGAGUA 31% 92 5 (4) 1 (1) 4 (3) 194 UACUCUUUCCAUUCUGUUU 4 (3) #4 128 192 41 AACAGAAUGGAAAGAGUAA 31% 77 5 (4) 1 (1) 2 (2) 195 UUACUCUUUCCAUUCUGUU 1 (1) 2 (1) #5 41 194 43 CAGAAUGGAAAGAGUAAAA 31% 124 5 (4) 6 (6) 196 UUUUACUCUUUCCAUUCUG #6 129 210 59 AAAAAGUUGAAGAGGCAGA 36% 95 5 (4) 2 (2) 11 (9) 197 UCUGCCUCUUCAACUUUUU #7 130 214 63 AGUUGAAGAGGCAGAGCCU 52% 63 5 (4) 7 (6) 198 AGGCUCUGCCUCUUCAACU 1 (1) #8 43 216 65 UUGAAGAGGCAGAGCCUGA 52% 104 5 (4) 2 (1) 4 (4) 199 UCAGGCUCUGCCUCUUCAA 2 (2) #9 44 222 71 AGGCAGAGCCUGAAGAAUU 47% 127 5 (4) 2 (1) 5 (5) 200 AAUUCUUCAGGCUCUGCCU 1 (1) #10 45 223 72 GGCAGAGCCUGAAGAAUUU 47% 90 5 (4) 2 (1) 7 (6) 201 AAAUUCUUCAGGCUCUGCC 1 (1) #11 46 231 80 CUGAAGAAUUUGUCGUGGA 42% 93 3 (2) 4 (3) 2 (2) 202 UCCACGACAAAUUCUUCAG #12 47 232 81 UGAAGAAUUUGUCGUGGAA 36% 91 3 (2) 4 (3) 2 (2) 203 UUCCACGACAAAUUCUUCA #13 48 234 83 AAGAAUUUGUCGUGGAAAA 31% 137 3 (2) 2 (2) 3 (3) 204 UGUUCCACGACAAAUUCUU 5 (3) #14 131 235 84 AGAAUUUGUCGUGGAAAAA 31% 72 3 (2) 2 (2) 3 (3) 205 UUUUUCCACGACAAAUUCU 4 (3) #15 132 241 90 UGUCGUGGAAAAAGUACUA 36% 57 3 (2) 4 (3) 206 UAGUACUUUUUCCACGACA #16 133 246 95 UGGAAAAAGUACUAGAUCG 36% 66 3 (2) 2 (2) 207 CGAUCUAGUACUUUUUCCA #17 49 247 96 GGAAAAAGUACUAGAUCGA 36% 138 3 (2) 2 (2) 1 (1) 208 UCGAUCUAGUACUUUUUCC #18 50 253 102 AGUACUAGAUCGACGUGUA 42% 99 3 (2) 2 (2) 209 UACACGUCGAUCAUGAUCU

TABLE 2B SEQ ID Position GC Position NO: gene CDS Candidate sequence % Score 19/19 18/19 17/19 #19 51 259 108 AGAUCGACGUGUAGUGAAU 42% 101 3 (2) 2 (2) 2 (2) 210 AUUCACUACACGUCGAUCU #20 134 264 113 GACGUGUAGUGAAUGGGAA 47% 65 5 (4) 2 (2) 211 UUCCCAUUCACUACACGUC #21 52 265 114 ACGUGUAGUGAAUGGGAAA 42% 107 5 (4) 2 (2) 4 (1) 212 UUUCCCAUUCACUACACGU #22 53 271 120 AGUGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAA 42% 85 5 (4) 8 (7) 213 UUCCACUUUCCCAUUCACU 1 (1) #23 135 272 121 GUGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAAU 42% 63 5 (4) 2 (1) 5 (5) 214 AUUCCACUUUCCCAUUCAC #24 54 273 122 UGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAAUA 36% 107 5 (4) 2 (1) 3 (3) 215 UAUUCCACUUUCCCAUUCA #25 136 293 142 UUCCUGAAGUGGAAGGGAU 47% 64 5 (4) 6 (6) 216 AUCCCUUCCACUUCAGGAA 2 (1) #26 137 294 143 UCCUGAAGUGGAAGGGAUU 47% 68 5 (4) 3 (3) 2 (2) 217 AAUCCCUUCCACUUCAGGA #27 138 296 145 CUGAAGUGGAAGGGAUUUA 42% 75 5 (4) 4 (3) 218 UAAAUCCCUUCCACUUCAG 3 (2) #28 139 301 150 GUGGAAGGGAUUUACAGAU 42% 60 5 (4) 4 (3) 4 (4) 219 AUCUGUAAAUCCCUUCCAC 2 (2) #29 140 302 151 UGGAAGGGAUUUACAGAUG 42% 72 5 (4) 4 (3) 4 (4) 220 CAUCUGUAAAUCCCUUCCA 2 (2) #30 141 310 159 AUUUACAGAUGCUGACAAU 31% 70 5 (4) 8 (6) 221 AUUGUCAGCAUCUGUAAAU 3 (2) #31 142 320 169 GCUGACAAUACUUGGGAAC 47% 77 5 (4) 2 (1) 5 (4) 222 GUUCCCAAGUAUUGUCAGC #32 143 322 171 UGACAAUACUUGGGAACCU 42% 68 5 (4) 2 (2) 5 (3) 223 AGGUUCCCAAGUAUUGUCA #33 55 330 179 CUUGGGAACCUGAAGAAAA 42% 102 5 (4) 2 (2) 7 (5) 224 UUUUCUUCAGGUUCCCAAG #34 144 331 180 UUGGGAACCUGAAGAAAAU 36% 81 5 (4) 3 (3) 10 (8) 225 AUUUUCUUCAGGUUCCCAA #35 56 360 209 CAGAAUUGAUUGAAGCGUU 36% 100 3 (2) 2 (2) 226 AACGCUUCAAUCAAUUCUG #36 57 361 210 AGAAUUGAUUGAAGCGUUU 31% 99 3 (2) 2 (2) 227 AAACGCUUCAAUCAAUUCU #37 145 366 215 UGAUUGAAGCGUUUCUUAA 31% 67 3 (2) 4 (4) 228 UUAAGAAACGCUUCAAUCA

TABLE 2C SEQ ID Position GC Position NO: gene CDS Candidate sequence % Score 19/19 18/19 17/19 #38 146 376 225 GUUUCUUAACUCACAGAAA 31% 65 3 (2) 6 (5) 229 UUUCUGAGAGUUAAGAAAC #39 58 388 237 UCAGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAA 42% 114 3 (2) 4 (3) 2 (2) 230 UUCUUUGCCAGCUUUCUGA 3 (3) #40 59 389 238 CAGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAA 42% 106 3 (2) 4 (3) 7 (5) 231 UUUCUUUGCCAGCUUUCUG 5 (5) #41 147 390 239 AGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAAA 36% 78 3 (2) 5 (4) 9 (7) 232 UUUUCUUUGCCAGCUUUCU 3 (3) #42 60 391 240 GAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAAAA 36% 104 3 (2) 4 (3) 10 (7) 233 UUUUUCUUUGCCAGCUUUC 4 (4) #43 148 397 246 UGGCAAAGAAAAAGAUGGU 36% 71 3 (2) 4 (3) 2 (2) 234 ACCAUCUUUUUCUUUGCCA 4 (3) #44 61 399 248 GCAAAGAAAAAGAUGGUAC 2 (2) 235 GUACCAUCUUUUUCUUUGC 2 (2) #45 62 400 249 CAAAGAAAAAGAUGGUACA 31% 100 3 (2) 2 (1) 4 (4) 236 UGUACCAUCUUUUUCUUUG #46 149 426 275 AAUCUUUAUCUGACAGUGA 31% 58 7 (6) 2 (1) 3 (2) 237 UCACUGUCAGAUAAAGAUU #47 63 441 290 GUGAAUCUGAUGACAGCAA 42% 87 7 (5) 4 (3) 5 (4) 238 UUGCUGUCAUCAGAUUCAC 1 (1) #48 150 443 292 GAAUCUGAUGACAGCAAAU 36% 66 7 (5) 3 (3) 3 (2) 239 AUUUGCUGUCAUCAGAUUC #49 151 449 298 GAUGACAGCAAAUCAAAGA 36% 63 5 (4) 2 (2) 8 (5) 240 UCUUUGAUUUGCUGUCAUC 4 (3) #50 152 452 301 GACAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGA 36% 64 5 (4) 3 (3) 4 (3) 241 UCUUCUUUGAUUUGCUGUC 5 (2) #51 64 453 302 ACAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGAA 31% 89 5 (4) 1 (1) 15 (11) 242 UUCUUCUUUGAUUUGCUGU 6 (3) #52 153 454 303 CAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGAAA 31% 89 5 (4) 1 (1) 18 (13) 243 UUUCUUCUUUGAUUUGCUG 4 (2) #53 154 456 305 GCAAAUCAAAGAAGAAAAG 31% 72 3 (2) 2 (2) 27 (19) 244 CUUUUCUUCUUUGAUUUGC 1 (1) #54 66 461 310 UCAAAGAAGAAAAGAGAUG 31% 94 3 (2) 2 (2) 8 (7) 245 CAUCUCUUUUCUUCUUUGA 2 (1) 5 (4) #55 155 466 315 GAAGAAAAGAGAUGCUGCU 42% 72 3 (2) 5 (4) 15 (9) 246 AGCAGCAUCUCUUUUCUUC 4 (4) #56 156 468 317 AGAAAAGAGAUGCUGCUGA 42% 82 5 (3) 2 (2) 8 (7) 247 UCAGCAGCAUCUCUUUUCU 1 (1) 2 (2)

TABLE 2D SEQ ID Position GC Position NO: gene CDS Candidate sequence % Score 19/19 18/19 17/19 #57 67 469 318 GAAAAGAGAUGCUGCUGAC 47% 89 5 (3) 2 (2) 3 (3) 248 GUCAGCAGCAUCUCUUUUC 1 (1) 2 (2) #58 157 471 320 AAAGAGAUGCUGCUGACAA 42% 75 5 (3) 2 (2) 7 (6) 249 UUGUCAGCAGCAUCUCUUU 1 (1) #59 68 472 321 AAGAGAUGCUGCUGACAAA 42% 112 5 (3) 4 (4) 7 (5) 250 UUUGUCAGCAGCAUCUCUU 5 (4) #60 69 482 331 GCUGACAAACCAAGAGGAU 47% 91 5 (4) 2 (1) 4 (2) 251 AUCCUCUUGGUUUGUCAGC 2 (1) #61 158 483 332 CUGACAAACCAAGAGGAUU 42% 61 5 (4) 2 (1) 2 (1) 252 AAUCCUCUUGGUUUGUCAG 2 (1) #62 1 484 333 UGACAAACCAAGAGGAUUU 36% 132 5 (4) 6 (5) 253 AAAUCCUCUUGGUUUGUCA #63 159 490 339 ACCAAGAGGAUUUGCCAGA 47% 78 5 (4) 4 (3) 254 UCUGGCAAAUCCUCUUGGU 1 (1) #64 160 496 345 AGGAUUUGCCAGAGGUCUU 47% 85 5 (4) 3 (3) 255 AAGACCUCUGGCAAAUCCU 1 (1) #65 161 502 351 UGCCAGAGGUCUUGAUCCU 52% 65 5 (4) 2 (2) 3 (2) 256 AGGAUCAAGACCUCUGGCA 6 (2) #66 162 504 353 CCAGAGGUCUUGAUCCUGA 52% 76 5 (4) 2 (2) 4 (3) 257 UCAGGAUCAAGACCUCUGG 1 (1) #67 163 508 357 AGGUCUUGAUCCUGAAAGA 42% 79 5 (4) 4 (3) 258 UCUUUCAGGAUCAAGACCU 1 (1) #68 164 510 359 GUCUUGAUCCUGAAAGAAU 36% 60 5 (4) 2 (2) 259 AUUCUUUCAGGAUCAAGAC 1 (1) #69 165 511 360 UCUUGAUCCUGAAAGAAUA 31% 81 5 (4) 5 (5) 260 UAUUCUUUCAGGAUCAAGA 3 (2) #70 166 537 386 CCACAGACAGCAGUGGAGA 57% 63 7 (6) 6 (4) 261 UCUCCACUGCUGUCUGUGG 7 (6) #71 167 538 387 CACAGACAGCAGUGGAGAA 52% 76 7 (6) 11 (7) 262 UUCUCCACUGCUGUCUGUG 4 (3) #72 168 539 388 ACAGACAGCAGUGGAGAAU 47% 63 5 (4) 2 (2) 3 (2) 263 AUUCUCCACUGCUGUCUGU 1 (1) #73 70 541 390 AGACAGCAGUGGAGAAUUG 47% 86 5 (4) 2 (2) 1 (1) 264 CAAUUCUCCACUGCUGUCU #74 169 549 398 GUGGAGAAUUGAUGUUUCU 36% 57 5 (4) 4 (3) 265 AGAAACAUCAAUUCUCCAC #75 170 552 401 GAGAAUUGAUGUUUCUCAU 31% 75 5 (4) 2 (2) 266 AUGAGAAACAUCAAUUCUC

TABLE 2E SEQ ID Position GC Position NO: gene CDS Candidate sequence % Score 19/19 18/19 17/19 #76 171 554 403 GAAUUGAUGUUUCUCAUGA 31% 60 5 (4) 2 (2) 267 UCAUGAGAAACAUCAAUUC 1 (1) #77 71 566 415 CUCAUGAAAUGGAAAGAUU 31% 83 5 (4) 2 (2) 3 (2) 268 AAUCUUUCCAUUUCAUGAG #78 172 568 417 CAUGAAAUGGAAAGAUUCA 31% 74 5 (4) 2 (2) 1 (1) 269 UGAAUCUUUCCAUUUCAUG #79 173 570 419 UGAAAUGGAAAGAUUCAGA 31% 64 5 (4) 2 (2) 7 (5) 270 UCUGAAUCUUUCCAUUUCA 1 (1) #80 174 576 425 GGAAAGAUUCAGAUGAGGC 47% 60 5 (4) 4 (3) 271 GCCUCAUCUGAAUCUUUCC 2 (1) #81 175 577 426 GAAAGAUUCAGAUGAGGCA 42% 80 5 (4) 3 (3) 272 UGCCUCAUCUGAAUCUUUC 2 (1) #82 176 579 428 AAGAUUCAGAUGAGGCAGA 42% 71 5 (4) 1 (1) 7 (5) 273 UCUGCCUCAUCUGAAUCUU #83 72 594 443 CAGACUUGGUGCUGGCGAA 57% 107 3 (2) 5 (3) 2 (1) 274 UUCGCCAGCACCAAGUCUG #84 177 595 444 AGACUUGGUGCUGGCGAAA 52% 67 3 (2) 2 (2) 4 (2) 275 UUUCGCCAGCACCAAGUCU #85 178 597 446 ACUUGGUGCUGGCGAAAGA 52% 80 3 (2) 2 (2) 276 UCUUUCGCCAGCACCAAGU #86 179 601 450 GGUGCUGGCGAAAGAGGCA 63% 70 3 (2) 13 (10) 277 UGCCUCUUUCGCCAGCACC 1 (1) #87 180 606 455 UGGCGAAAGAGGCAAAUAU 42% 73 3 (2) 2 (2) 1 (1) 278 AUAUUUGCCUCUUUCGCCA #88 73 608 457 GCGAAAGAGGCAAAUAUGA 42% 86 3 (2) 2 (2) 279 UCAUAUUUGCCUCUUUCGC #89 74 609 458 CGAAAGAGGCAAAUAUGAA 36% 117 3 (2) 2 (2) 2 (1) 280 UUCAUAUUUGCCUCUUUCG 2 (2) #90 181 615 464 AGGCAAAUAUGAAGUGUCC 42% 66 3 (2) 2 (2) 3 (3) 281 GGACACUUCAUAUUUGCCU #91 182 617 466 GCAAAUAUGAAGUGUCCUC 42% 73 3 (2) 4 (4) 2 (1) 282 GAGGACACUUCAUAUUUGC #92 183 620 469 AAUAUGAAGUGUCCUCAAA 31% 65 3 (2) 4 (4) 2 (1) 283 UUUGAGGACACUUCAUAUU #93 184 632 481 CCUCAAAUUGUAAUUGCUU 31% 57 5 (4) 4 (3) 3 (2) 284 AAGCAAUUACAAUUUGAGG 1 (1) #94 185 658 507 AGAGAGACUAACUUGGCAU 42% 61 7 (5) 2 (2) 1 (1) 285 AUGCCAAGUUAGUCUCUCU 1 (1) #95 186 659 508 GAGAGACUAACUUGGCAUU 42% 60 7 (5) 2 (2) 286 AAUGCCAAGUUAGUCUCUC 1 (1) #96 187 673 522 GCAUUCUUGUCCAGAAGAU 42% 61 7 (6) 3 (2) 287 AUCUUCUGGACAAGAAUGC 3 (2) #97 188 681 530 GUCCAGAAGAUGAAGCUCA 47% 82 5 (4) 2 (2) 4 (3) 288 UGAGCUUCAUCUUCUGGAC #98 189 682 531 UCCAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAA 42% 80 5 (4) 10 (7) 289 UUGAGCUUCAUCUUCUGGA #99 75 684 533 CAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUA 36% 91 5 (4) 4 (4) 290 UAUUGAGCUUCAUCUUCUG #100 190 685 534 AGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUAA 31% 75 5 (4) 7 (6) 291 UUAUUGAGCUUCAUCUUCU 1 (1) #101 83 1220 GAUAAUCCCUUCAAGUUAA 31% 95 3 (2) 11 (7) 292 UUAACUUGAAGGGAUUAUC #102 84 1258 CCAUACAUUUCAAGUGAAA 31% 118 3 (2) 2 (1) 293 UUUCACUUGAAAUGUAUGG #103 88 1417 GACAAAUGCUAGUGUGUUU 36% 112 3 (2) 294 AAACACACUAGCAUUUGUC #104 89 1487 GGGCCAUUCCUUAGCAAAA 47% 114 3 (2) 295 UUUUGCUAAGGAAUGGCCC 1 (1) #105 191 1538 GGUCAUGAUGAAUGGAAUA 36% 124 3 (2) 1 (1) 296 UAUUCCAUUCAUCAUGACC 1 (1) #106 95 1730 CAGCAAAAGCCAGGAAGAA 47% 110 3 (2) 297 UUCUUCCUGGCUUUUGCUG 2 (2)

TABLE 2F SEQ ID Position GC Position NO: gene CDS Candidate sequence % Score 19/19 18/19 17/19 #95 186 659 508 GAGAGACUAACUUGGCAUU 42% 60 7 (5) 2 (2) 286 AAUGCCAAGUUAGUCUCUC 1 (1) #96 187 673 522 GCAUUCUUGUCCAGAAGAU 42% 61 7 (6) 3 (2) 287 AUCUUCUGGACAAGAAUGC 3 (2) #97 188 681 530 GUCCAGAAGAUGAAGCUCA 47% 82 5 (4) 2 (2) 4 (3) 288 UGAGCUUCAUCUUCUGGAC #98 189 682 531 UCCAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAA 42% 80 5 (4) 10 (7) 289 UUGAGCUUCAUCUUCUGGA #99 75 684 533 CAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUA 36% 91 5 (4) 4 (4) 290 UAUUGAGCUUCAUCUUCUG #100 190 685 534 AGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUAA 31% 75 5 (4) 7 (6) 291 UUAUUGAGCUUCAUCUUCU 1 (1) #101 83 1220 GAUAAUCCCUUCAAGUUAA 31% 95 3 (2) 11 (7) 292 UUAACUUGAAGGGAUUAUC #102 84 1258 CCAUACAUUUCAAGUGAAA 31% 118 3 (2) 2 (1) 293 UUUCACUUGAAAUGUAUGG #103 88 1417 GACAAAUGCUAGUGUGUUU 36% 112 3 (2) 294 AAACACACUAGCAUUUGUC #104 89 1487 GGGCCAUUCCUUAGCAAAA 47% 114 3 (2) 295 UUUUGCUAAGGAAUGGCCC 1 (1) #105 191 1538 GGUCAUGAUGAAUGGAAUA 36% 124 3 (2) 1 (1) 296 UAUUCCAUUCAUCAUGACC 1 (1) #106 95 1730 CAGCAAAAGCCAGGAAGAA 47% 110 3 (2) 297 UUCUUCCUGGCUUUUGCUG 2 (2)

Furthermore, among the 19-base RNA listed above in Tables 2A to 2F, those which are particularly preferred both from the viewpoint of their high RNAi effect and high HP1γ specificity are the following eleven siRNAs: #5 (sense sequence No. 41, antisense sequence No. 196), #17 (sense sequence No. 49, antisense sequence No. 208), #35 (sense sequence No. 56, antisense sequence No. 226), #62 (sense sequence No, 1, antisense sequence No. 253), #89 (sense sequence No. 74, antisense sequence No. 280), #101 (sense sequence No. 83, antisense sequence No. 292), #102 (sense sequence No. 84, antisense sequence No. 293), #103 (sense sequence No. 88, antisense sequence No. 294), #104 (sense sequence No, 89, antisense sequence No. 295), #105 (sense sequence No. 191, antisense sequence No. 296), and #106 (sense sequence No. 95, antisense sequence No. 297).

Namely, siRNAs based on the eleven double-stranded RNA portions presented above are highly specific to HP1γ mRNA, as is seen in the following Tables 3A to 3K, which presents the result of a search of genes which include sequences that are either fully identical to (19/19), differ only in one base (18/19) from, or differ in two bases (17/19) from them, and they therefore are particularly unlikely to cause any off-target effect. One may use either any one of these siRNA alone or two or more of them concomitantly (e.g., in a mixture, or through simultaneous administration of them). Among these eleven, those having particularly great specificity to HP1γ mRNA are those based on #17 (sense sequence No. 49, antisense sequence No. 208), #62 (sense sequence No. 1, antisense sequence 253), or #89 (sense sequence No. 74, anti sense sequence No. 280), which are most preferred.

In Tables 3A to 3K, “Accession#” indicates Accession numbers of the sequences in GenBank, and under “NM_(—)016587”, which is the accession number of human HP1γ, are listed accession numbers of matching sequences that were hit in the search. “GeneID#” indicates identification numbers assigned to the genes, and “11335” in the Tables indicates human HP1γ gene itself. “Predicted” means that the indicated gene is hypothetical one which is predicted on computer. Further, “CBX3” and “chromosome homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila)” are the official code and the official name, respectively, assigned to HP1γ by NCBI.

TABLE 3A SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #5 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 41 194 43 XR_015260.1 322 3U 730552 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC730552), mRNA. XM_938779.2 155 CDS 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 154 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. XR_015356.1 322 3U 728217 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC728217), mRNA. NM_016587.2 194 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 41 194 43 17/19 NM_016587 41 194 43 NR_002723.2 173365 3U 8327 Homo sapiens GA binding protein transcription factor, alpha subunit pseudogene (GABPAP) on chromosome 7. XR_019241.1 45 3U 651211 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC651211), mRNA. NM_006694.2 1309 3U 10899 Homo sapiens jumping translocation breakpoint (JTB), mRNA. NM_033106.2 905 3U 85569 Homo sapiens galanin-like peptide precursor (GALP), mRNA. XR_016921.1 45 3U 644101 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC644101), mRNA. NM_001018116.1 1832 3U 347273 Homo sapiens similar to RIKEN cDNA 2310039E09 (LOC347273), mRNA. 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 196 194 43 18/19 NM_016587 196 194 43 17/19 NM_016587 196 194 43

TABLE 3B SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #17 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 49 247 96 XM_938779.2 208 CDS 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 207 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 247 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 49 247 96 XR_019241.1 97 3U 651211 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC651211), mRNA. XR_016921.1 97 3U 644101 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC644101), mRNA. 17/19 NM_016587 49 247 96 NM_001040455.1 1369 CDS 51092 Homo sapiens SID1 transmembrane family, member 2 (SIDT2), mRNA. 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 208 247 96 18/19 NM_016587 208 247 96 17/19 NM_016587 208 247 96

TABLE 3C SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #35 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 56 360 209 XM_938779.2 321 CDS 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 320 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 360 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 56 360 209 XR_019241.1 210 3U 651211 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC651211), mRNA. XR_016921.1 210 3U 644101 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC644101), mRNA. 17/19 NM_016587 56 360 209 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 226 360 209 18/19 NM_016587 226 360 209 17/19 NM_016587 226 360 209

TABLE 3D SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #62 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 1 484 333 XM_938779.2 445 CDS 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. XR_019241.1 333 3U 651211 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC651211), mRNA. NM_007276.3 444 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. XR_016921.1 333 3U 644101 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC644101), mRNA. NM_016587.2 484 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 1 484 333 17/19 NM_016587 1 484 333 NM_014753.2 844 CDS 9790 Homo sapiens BMS1 homolog, ribosome assembly protein (yeast) (BMS1), mRNA. XM_001126283.1 264 CDS PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC642721), mRNA. XR_015804.1 887 3U 729096 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to BMS1-like, ribosome assembly protein (LOC729096), mRNA. XM_001128446.1 273 CDS 642721 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC642721), mRNA. NM_147128.3 1827 3U Homo sapiens zinc and ring finger 2 (ZNRF2), mRNA. XM_944657.2 996 CDS 653468 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens hypothetical protein LOC653468, transcript variant 3 (LOC653468), mRNA. 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 253 484 333 18/19 NM_016587 253 484 333 17/19 NM_016587 253 484 333

TABLE 3E SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #89 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 74 609 458 XM_938779.2 570 CDS 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 569 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 609 CDS 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 74 609 458 XR_015260.1 737 3U 730552 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC730552), mRNA. XR_015356.1 737 3U 728217 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC728217), mRNA. 17/19 NM_016587 74 609 458 NM_001077186.1 3046 CDS 79784 Homo sapiens myosin, heavy chain 14 (MYH14), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_024729.3 3022 CDS 79784 Homo sapiens myosin, heavy chain 14 (MYH14), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 280 609 458 18/19 NM_016587 280 609 458 17/19 NM_016587 280 609 458 NM_016150.3 242 5U 51676 Homo sapiens ankyrin repeat and SOCS box-containting 2 (ASB2), mRNA. NM_199324.1 6202 3U 54726 Homo sapiens OTU domain containing 4 (OTUD4), transcript variant 1, mRNA.

TABLE 4F SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #101 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 83 1220 XM_938779.2 1177 3U 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 1180 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 1220 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 83 1220 17/19 NM_016587 83 1220 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 292 1220 18/19 NM_016587 292 1220 17/19 NM_016587 292 1220

TABLE 3G SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #102 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 84 1258 XM_938779.2 1215 3U 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 1218 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 1258 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 84 1258 17/19 NM_016587 84 1258 NM_003187.4 1150 3U Homo sapiens TAF9 RNA polymerase II, TATA box binding protein (TBP)-associated factor, 32 kDa (TAF9), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_001015892.1 1387 3U 6880 Homo sapiens TAF9 RNA polymerase II, TATA box binding protein (TBP)-associated factor, 32 kDa (TAF9), transcript variant 4, mRNA. 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 293 1258 18/19 NM_016587 293 1258 17/19 NM_016587 293 1258

TABLE 3H SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #103 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 88 1417 XM_938779.2 1374 3U 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 1377 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 1417 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 3, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 88 1417 17/19 NM_016587 88 1417 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 294 1417 18/19 NM_016587 294 1417 17/19 NM_016587 294 1417

TABLE 3I SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #104 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 89 1487 XM_938779.2 1444 3U 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 1447 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 1487 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 89 1487 17/19 NM_016587 89 1487 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 295 1487 18/19 NM_016587 295 1487 17/19 NM_016587 295 1487 NM_004872.3 1588 3U 9528 Homo sapiens transmembrane protein 59 (TMEM59), mRNA.

TABLE 3J SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #105 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 191 1538 XM_938779.2 1495 3U 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 1498 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 1538 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 191 1538 17/19 NM_016587 191 1538 NM_153262.2 1733 CDS 255928 Homo sapiens synaptotagmin XIV (SYT14), mRNA. 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 296 1538 18/19 NM_016587 296 1538 17/19 NM_016587 296 1538 NM_153810.4 3335 3U 143384 Homo sapiens chromosome 10 open reading frame 46 (C10orf46), mRNA.

TABLE 3K SEQ ID Match Sequence Accession # NO: gene CDS GeneID # Definition #106 Sense 19/19 NM_016587 95 1730 XM_938779.2 1687 3U 653972 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to chromobox homolog 3 (LOC653972), mRNA. NM_007276.3 1690 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 1, mRNA. NM_016587.2 1730 3U 11335 Homo sapiens chromobox homolog 3 (HP1 gamma homolog, Drosophila) (CBX3), transcript variant 2, mRNA. 18/19 NM_016587 95 1730 17/19 NM_016587 95 1730 19/19 Antisense NM_016587 297 1730 18/19 NM_016587 297 1730 17/19 NM_016587 297 1730 NM_152292.3 3155 3U 93587 Homo sapiens RNA (guanine-9-) methyltransferase domain containing 2 (RG9MTD2), mRNA. XR_018656.1 451 3U 649307 PREDICTED: Homo sapiens similar to Olfactory receptor 10R2 (LOC649307), mRNA.

There is no particular limitation as to how the above siRNAs are synthesized, and they thus may be synthesized either in vitro, chemically or enzymatically, or in vivo as well. It is preferred, however, that they are chemically synthesized by a method known in the art. Synthesized siRNAs are advantageous, because they, for example, allow easy adjustment of their concentration. They are also advantageous in respect of safety for they allow easy prevention of their contamination. For preparing an siRNA having overhangs and comprising the double-stranded sequences set forth as SEQ ID NO:1, for example, an RNA strand comprising the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 and having a 2-base overhang at the 3′-end thereof, and an RNA strand comprising the sequence that is complementary to the sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO:1 and having a 2-base overhang at the 3′-end thereof, are separately synthesized. Then the two RNA strands are allowed to form a pair to give a double-stranded siRNA with overhangs. Before use, as needed, they are preferably purified as desired by a method known in the art.

In the case where an antisense (single-stranded DNA) is used according to the present invention to suppress the expression of HP1γ gene, there is no particular limitation in choosing an antisense except than it has a nucleotide sequence which is complementary to the nucleotide sequence of HP1γ gene, and inhibits the expression of HP1γ gene. Such an antisense, as aforementioned, may inhibit either splicing into mRNA or translation into the HP1γ protein. There is no particular limitation as to the length of such antisenses, but it is preferably, for example, 10-40 mer, more preferably 17-30 mer, and still more preferably 20-30 mer in length. Examples of antisenses that may be employed according to the present invention are listed below.

[TABLE 4]

TABLE 4 Sequence SEQ ID NO: 5′-CTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 98 5′-TCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 99 5′-TTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 100 5′-ATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 101 5′-CATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 102 5′-CCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 103 5′-TCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 104 5′-TCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 105 5′-TTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 106 5′-TTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 107 5′-CTTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 108 5′-TCTTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 109 5′-CTCTTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 110 5′-ACTCTTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 111 5′-TACTCTTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 112 5′-TTACTCTTTCCATTCTGTTTTTTTCCCAT-3′ 113

Since the cancer cell proliferation inhibitors, especially the siRNAs according to the present invention act to potently inhibit occurrence of “loss of differentiation”, which is common to a variety of cancer cells, the types of cancers which are to be treated with them are not limited, but a wide variety of cancers, as aforementioned, may be treated, regardless of whether they are epithelial or non-epithelial cancers, or whether they are solid or non-solid cancers. Further, the cancer cell proliferation inhibitors according to the present invention can be used for the treatment of cancers in mammalian animals including human, and, among others, of human cancers. Cancer cells whose proliferation can be inhibited are not limited but are the same as the aforementioned cancer cells that can be identified with the method according to the present invention.

<Composition for Cancer Treatment>

The compositions for cancer treatment according to the present invention are medicinal compositions for the treatment of cancer, and comprises one of the aforementioned cancer cell proliferation inhibitors according to the present invention, inter alia, siRNAs specific to HP1γ in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier well known in the art. Such a medicinal composition administered to a patient can inhibit proliferation of cancer cells and thereby potently suppress the progression of cancer. There is no specific limitation as to the types of cancers which may be treated, but they are the same as the aforementioned cancer cells that can be identified by the method according to the present invention. Furthermore, because the cancer cell proliferation inhibitors according to the present invention, inter alia siRNAs specific to HP1γ, are highly specific to cancer cells compared with other conventional agents which so far have been available, they enable either to minimize or eliminate the probability of affecting normal cells (non-cancerous cells), thereby remarkably reduce any risks of side effects.

The medicinal composition according to the present invention may further contain one or more cell differentiation-inducing agents. Addition of differentiation inducing agents enables, for example, to further promote the differentiation of the cancer cells and to effectively induce their apoptosis while suppressing proliferation of cancer cells with the aforementioned proliferation inhibitor agents. As cell differentiation-inducing agents mentioned above, those which are known in the art may be employed without particular limitation, and examples of them include, for example, adipose differentiation inducers such as thiazolidine derivatives (PPARγ-ligands) and the like. In addition, one or more anticancer drugs known in the art may also be contained, for they can further suppress proliferation of cancer cells and promote cell death. They include, for example, taxol, cisplatin, herceptin, 5-FU, glivec, rituxan, iressa, etc.

The medicinal composition according to the present invention may further contain a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Examples of such pharmaceutical carriers include, but not limited to, those carriers which can enhance the efficiency of penetration of the aforementioned expression inhibitors into target sites, tissues or cells (such as liposome, cation liposome, etc.). Examples of pharmaceutical forms of the medicinal composition according to the present invention include, but not limited to, an injection, cream, ointment, tablet, suspension, or the like. Examples of the way of administration include, but not limited to, injection, and oral, topical, intranasal and intrarectal administration, etc.

<Method for Inhibition of Proliferation>

The invention provides a method for inhibition of cancer cell proliferation comprising bringing cancer cells into contact with a proliferation inhibitor according to the present invention. It may also be the medicinal composition according to the present invention that are brought into contact with cancer cells.

There is no particular limitation as to the amount of the proliferation inhibitors according to the present invention to be applied to cancer cells, but it may be determined as desired in accordance with the types and amount of the expression inhibitor compounds contained therein. In the case where the expression inhibitor compound is an siRNA, it is applied preferably in an amount of 1-100 nmole per 1×10⁴ cells, more preferably 5-50 nmole, and most preferably 5-10 nmole. In the case where the expression inhibitor compound in an antisense, it is applied preferably in an amount of 1-100 μmole per 1×10⁴ cells, more preferably 5-50 μmole, and most preferably 5-20 μmol.

In practicing the method for inhibition of proliferation according to the present invention, it is sufficient to bring one of the aforementioned cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents into contact with cancer cells. There is no particular limitation as to how this is done, which, for example, may be determined in accordance with the type of the expression inhibitor compound contained in the proliferation inhibitor agent. In the case where the proliferation inhibitor agent is an siRNA, it may be brought into contact with the cancer cells together with a transfection reagent known in the art to introduce the siRNA into the cells. In the case where an antisense is employed, the same procedure may be followed. The medicinal compositions according to the present invention may also be used in the same manner.

<Method for Treatment>

The proliferation inhibitor agents and the medicinal compositions according to the present invention can not only be applied to cancer cells or tissues in vitro, but also be used to treat cancer patients. Namely, the proliferation inhibitor agents or the medicinal compositions according to the present invention may be administered to cancer patients to bring the cancer cells into contact with the expression inhibitor compounds. According to this method, reduction of side effects is expected, for example, on normal cells, the cells that have been fully differentiated. The reason for this is as follows. As will be shown later in Examples, HP1γ protein cannot be detected in normal, differentiated cells. Namely, even if administered with a proliferation inhibitor agent according to the present invention, normal, differentiated cells already lacks expression of HP1γ protein. Therefore, normal, differentiated cells, even if brought into contact with a proliferation inhibitor agent according to the present invention, are hardly thought to be affected by any suppression of expression of HP1γ protein.

Examples of patients include humans, mammalian animals other than humans, and other animals. There is no particular limitation as to the way in which the proliferation inhibitors and medicinal compositions according to the present invention are administered, and in accordance with the site to be treated, such a way of administration may be chosen as injection, topical application, or surgical treatment to implant the inhibitors in the affected site or under the skin. A delivery system known in the art may also be employed in accordance with the site where administration is to be made. Further, as needed, it is also possible to construct an siRNA expression vector which will express an aforementioned siRNA, and thus to utilize a delivery system based on the technique of gene therapy.

<Screening Method>

The screening method according to the present invention is a method of screening for cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents, which comprises the steps of; bringing HP1γ gene into contact with candidate compounds, detecting expression of HP1γ gene, and selecting, as cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents, those candidate compounds which were found to inhibit the expression of HP1γ gene. Employing this method, it becomes possible to construct novel agents which inhibit expression of HP1γ gene. There is no further limitation as to such compounds insofar as they inhibit expression of HP1γ gene (expression of HP1γ protein), and they may be polynucleotides (oligonucleotides), proteins, or low molecular-weight compounds.

EXAMPLES

Examples of the present invention then will be described below together with Comparative Examples. The present invention, however, is not limited by the Examples and Comparative Examples. Unless otherwise noted, “%” means “w/v %”.

<Method for Cell Culture>

3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM; Sigma) supplemented with 10% bovine serum (BS). Colon cancer cells DLD-1, HCT116 and HT-29; lung cancer cells NCI-H23; and gastric cancer cells MKN1 and MKN28 were cultured in RPMI1640 medium (Sigma) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS); uterine cervical cancer cell HeLa and SiHa in DMEM medium supplemented with 10% FBS. To any of the media used in Examples were added 1% penicillin and 1% streptomycin. The condition of the culture was set at 37° C. in 5% CO₂ atmosphere.

<Antibody>

Antibodies employed were; mouse monoclonal antibodies to HP1α, HP1β and HP1γ, respectively (Chemicon); rabbit polyclonal antibody to Met₃H4K20 (Upstate); rabbit polyclonal antibodies to AceH3K18, Met₂H3R17, Met₂H3K4, AceH4K12, AcetH4K16, AceH3K9, Met₂H3K9 and AceH4K8, respectively (Abeam); and anti-GAPD antibody to GAPDH (Santacruz) as a control.

Example 1 1. Expression of HP1γ Protein in the Process of Cell Differentiation

The relation between cell differentiation and expression of HP1γ protein was examined.

(1) Expression of HP1γ Protein Concurrent with Cell Differentiation

3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes were cultured to confluence in DMEM medium supplemented with 10% BS, and their differentiation into adipocytes were induced by culturing them under the following condition. First, the preadipocytes were transferred to a first differentiation-inducing medium (10% FCS, 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and 1 μM dexamethasone), and cultured for two days. The cells then were transferred to a second differentiation-inducing medium (DMEM medium contain 10% FBS and 10 μg/mL insulin), in which they were cultured for two days, and then to a third differentiation-inducing medium (DMEM medium containing 10% FBS), in which culture was performed for a predetermined length of time (for; 0 day, 3 days, 6 days, 9 days, or 14 days) for induction of differentiation. 3-Isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin are differentiation inducers (adipose reagents), and, by being cultured in the presence of these differentiation inducers, 3T3-L1 cells generally will change their shape from a one that is characteristic of a fibroblast-like phenotype into a round shape, and form lipid droplets, which will accumulate in the cells. On the other hand, human preadipocytes were cultured in a preadipocyte medium (DMEM/Ham's F12 (1:1) Gibco BRL, 10% FBS) to confluence, then cultured in a forth differentiation-inducing medium (3% FBS, 1 nM dexamethasone, 100 nM human insulin, 0.25 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, 10 μM PPARγ agonist) for two days, and then transferred to a fifth differentiation-inducing medium (3% FBS, 1 nM dexamethasone, 100 nM human insulin), in which they were cultured for a predetermined length of time (treatment for differentiation induction for; 0 day, 3 days, 6 days, 9 days, or 14 days). Regarding the term during which the treatment for differentiation induction was performed in the above, day 0 was assigned to the point of time in the case of 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes, when the first differentiation-inducing medium was added, and, in the case of human preadipocytes, to the point of time when the forth differentiation-inducing medium was added, respectively.

The cultured cells thus prepared then were examined for the expression of HP1 proteins (α, β, γ) by western blotting.

First, proteins were extracted from the cultured cells by a method known in the art, and suspended in an SDS-PAGE buffer. The suspension thus prepared was heat-treated to denature the proteins and then applied, in an amount containing 10 μg proteins, to 15% SDS-PAGE for electrophoresis. The proteins thus electrophoresed were transferred to a membrane (Immobilon™ membrane; mftd. by Millipore) by semi-dry method, and antibodies to the proteins to be detected (HP1α, HP1β, HP1γ) were applied to the membrane for letting the proteins immobilized on the membrane undergo an antigen-antibody reaction with the antibodies. Thus obtained antigen-antibody complexes were detected on a detector (LAS3000™ mini: mftd. by Fuji Film) following exposure of an autoradiography film after causing chemical luminescence using a kit containing an enzyme-labeled secondary antibody and a fluorescent reagent (product name: ECL plus: mftd. by Amersham). As a control, the expression of GAPDH protein was examined in the same manner.

The results are shown in FIG. 1(A). FIG. 1(A) is autoradiograms showing the time profiles of the expression of different proteins (HP1α, HP1β, HP1γ) in 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes and human preadipocytes in both of which differentiation had been induced. In the figure, the results in 3T3-L1 cells are on the left, and those in human preadipocytes on the right.

As shown in the above figure, of HP1 proteins, HP1α and HP1β proteins were found expressed at all the stages (from day 0 to day 14) of differentiation into adipoeytes. In contrast, the expression of HP1γ protein was found reduced on day 9 of treatment for differentiation induction, and no longer detectable on day 14. The fact that the amount of expressed HP1γ protein thus reduced as differentiation proceeded and became hardly detectable in differentiated cells suggests that the decline of HP1γ protein expression is playing some role in cell differentiation. Although it has been reported that the all three HP1 homologues have reduced in their amount in fully differentiated cells (e.g., blood cells) (Non-patent documents 4, 5, and 6), HP1γ alone, of the HP1 homologues, as mentioned above, is thought to play a role in differentiation. This was first revealed by the present inventors.

(2) Effect of Ectopic Expression of HP1γ Protein on Cell Differentiation

Examination was performed to find out whether ectopic expression of HP1γ protein has some effect on cell differentiation.

(2-1) Establishment of an HP1γ-Expressing Cell Line

As follows, starting with 3T3-L1, a cell line was established in which the expression of HP1γ protein is constantly induced with mifepristone.

Using total RNA form HCT116 cells, which were colon cancer cells, as a template, reverse transcription PCR was carried out to amplify HP1γ cDNA. HP1γ cDNA thus amplified was directly subcloned into the pCR2.1 vector (mftd. by Invitrogen) to prepare a recombinant vector pCRHP1γ. The pCRHP1γ was cleaved with EcoRI, and the EcoRI fragment containing HP1γ cDNA was subcloned into the EcoRI site of the pGene-V5 (mftd. by Invitrogen) to prepare pGHP1γ. Then, to 3T3-L1 placed in a cell culture dish of 100 mm in diameter were introduced 3 μg of a regulating plasmid (pSwitch vector) and 7 μg of pGHP1γ were introduced. As a control, the empty vector pGene-V5 was introduced instead of pGHP1γ. Their introduction was performed using DoFect GT1 transfection reagent (mftd. by Dojin) according to the product's manual. Selection of the cells that harbored these introduced plasmids was done using 400 μg/mL of Zeocin (registered trademark, mftd. by Invitrogen) and 50 μg/ml, of hygromycin (product name, mftd. by Invitrogen). The cells thus obtained was a mifepristone-inducible HP1γ gene expression cell line (hereinafter referred to as “plasmid-introduced cells”).

(2-2) Confirmation of Ectopic Expression of HP1γ Protein

The cell line thus obtained and plasmid-unintroduced 3T3-L1 (hereinafter referred to as “plasmid-unintroduced cells”) were separately cultured in the presence of 1×10⁻⁷ M mifepristone, the inducer, to induce the expression of HP1γ protein. The culture was performed using multiple inducing media as described in “1.(1)” above, and mifepristone was added to every medium. Further, to examine the effect of differentiation induction and that of expression induction, additional culture was also performed in the absence of mifepristone or the inducing agents (adipose reagents). The cells thus cultured were analyzed by western blotting in the same manner as described in “1.(1)” above, and this confirmed that the expression of HP1γ protein had been induced. As a control, the same analysis was made on GAPDH protein.

The results are shown in FIG. 1(B). FIG. 1(B) is a set of autoradiograms showing the expression of HP1γ protein in 3T3-L1. In the figure, “tr” indicates the results obtained from the mifepristone-inducible HP1γ-expressing 3T3-L1 (plasmid-introduced cells), and “wt” those from 3T3-L1 in which no recombinant plasmid pGHP1γ had been introduced (plasmid-unintroduced cells). “Mifepristone (+) (−)” indicates whether the culture was performed in the presence, or absence, of mifepristone, and “adipose reagents (+) (−)” indicates whether the culture was performed in the presence, or absence, of the differentiation inducers.

As shown in the figure, it was confirmed that in the plasmid-introduced cells, unlike plasmid-unintroduced cells, expression of HP1γ gene was induced in the presence of mifepristone, and this caused an increase in the amount of HP1γ protein.

(3) Effect of HP1γ Expression on Cell Differentiation

The plasmid-introduced cells and plasmid-unintroduced cells, both cultured in the same manner as is described in (2) above, were examined for accumulation of lipid droplets within the cells. As aforementioned, 3T3-L1 cells change their phenotype when differentiation is induced, and they form lipid droplets and accumulate them within the cells. Therefore, assay of cells as to whether they have differentiated or not can be done by detecting lipid accumulation within the cells. Assay of cells differentiation was performed with oil red staining using an analysis kit (product name: Adipogenesis Assay kit; mftd. by Chemicon).

The results are shown in FIG. 1(C). The figure is a set of photographs showing the results of the oil red staining of 3T3-L1. In the figure, “transfectant” indicates the results of mifepristone-inducible HP1γ expression system 3T3-L1 (plasmid-introduced cells), and “wt” the results of 313-L1 into which no recombinant pGHP1γ had been introduced (plasmid-unintroduced cells). And “mifepristone (+) (−)” indicates a culture in the presence, or absence, of mifepristone, and “adipose reagents (+) (−)” a culture in the presence, or absence, of differentiation inducers.

As shown in the figure, in the plasmid-unintroduced cells cultured in the presence of differentiation inducers (adipose reagents +), positive staining (i.e., accumulation of lipid droplets) was detected regardless of whether the culture had been done in the presence or absence of mifepristone. Thus, it was proved that differentiation is surely induced in the plasmid-unintroduced cells when differentiation inducers are present. In contrast, in 3T3-L1 cells which had been transformed into an HP1γ expression system (plasmid-introduced cells), though positive staining was detected in the presence of differentiation inducers when mifepristone was absent, no positive staining was detectable when mifepristone was present. Thus, in the presence of mifepristone, cell differentiation was not induced either in the presence or absence of differentiation inducers. This result shows that HP1γ protein, which was induced by mifepristone, inhibited cell differentiation, and that inhibition of the expression of HP1γ protein is necessary for cell differentiation to take place.

2. Correlation Between HP1 Expression and Histone Modification

(1) Time Course of Histone Modification During Cell Differentiation

Modification of histone, which is a component of chromatin, is one of epigenetic mechanisms, and is known to be important for cell differentiation (Non-patent Document 7). Thus, we examined the time course of histone modification in 3T3-L1 during cell differentiation. First, culture of 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes was performed in the same manner as described in “1.(1)” above except that the duration of culture in the aforementioned third differentiation-inducing medium was set at certain length of time (0 day, 1 days, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 6 days, 8 days, 10 days, or 14 days). And, except that the above-mentioned various antibodies were employed, western blotting was performed in the same manner as described in “1.(2)” above to detect HP1γ, AceH3K9, AceH3K18, Met₂H3K4 (DiMetH3K4), Met₂H3K9 (DiMetH3K9), Met₂H3R17 (DiH3R17), AceH4K8, AceH4K12, AcetH4K16, Met₃H4K20 (TriMetH4K20), as well as GAPDH which was a control.

The results are shown in FIG. 2(A). The figure is a set of autoradiograms showing the time course of histone modification during differentiation of 3T3-L1. As shown in the figure, the acetylation levels at K9 and K18 of histone H3, and at K2 and K16 of histone H4, were equally lowered along with the decreasing amount of expressed HP1γ protein which occurred as the cell differentiation proceeded. In contrast to this, and contrary to the decrease in HP1γ protein expression occurring along with cell differentiation, methylation at K4, arginine (R9) and K17 of histone H3 increased with time.

(2) Relation Between HP1γ Protein Expression and Histone Modification Levels in Differentiation

Further, examination was conducted to find out whether the expression of HP1γ protein directly effects on the levels of the above histone modifications. This was done, using the mifepristone-inducible HP1γ expressing 3T3-L1 (plasmid-introduced cells) prepared in “1.(2)” above, by western blotting of histone modification, at 4-hour intervals for 72 hours after the start of mifepristone treatment. The condition for cell culture was the same as that in “1.(1)” above, and the western blotting was performed in the same manner as described above.

The results are shown in FIG. 2(B). The figure is a set of autoradiograms showing the time course of the expression of HP1γ protein and histone modification. As shown in the figure, along with the over-expression of HP1γ protein, the levels of acetylation of K18 of histone H4 and trimethylation of K20 of histone H4 rose, while those of acetylation of K12 of histone H4 and dimethylation of K4 of histone H3 declined.

(3) Relation Between Suppression of HP1γ Gene Expression and Histone Modification Levels

By means of RNA interference using siRNAs which inhibit HP1γ gene expression, examination was conducted to find out a relation between trimethylation levels of histone H4K20 and the expression of HP1γ protein.

Using 12 μl, of HiPerFect reagent (product name, mftd. by Qiagen) per 60-mm culture dish, 3T3-L1 mouse preadipocytes were transfected following the manual attached to the reagent, with 50 nM siTrio (registered trademark) Full Set (mftd. by B-Bridge) containing siRNAs specific to mouse HP1α, HP1β and HP1γ gene, respectively. The siRNA sequences (shown by sense strands only) specific to HP1α were 5′-GGGAGAAAUCAGAAGGAAATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:114), 5′-GCGAAGAGCUAAAGGAGGATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:115), and 5′-GGAUACAGUCUGAGAGUUATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:116); siRNA sequences specific to HP1μ were 5′-GGUACUAGAAGAAGAGGAATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:117), 5′-GGCGAGUUGUCAAGGGCAATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:118), and 5′-GAAAACAGCUCAUGAGACATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:119); siRNA sequences specific to HP1γ were 5′-GGACCGUCGUGUAGUGAAUTT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:120), 5′-CCGACUUGGUGCUGGCAAATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:121), and 5′-GGAAAAUGGAAUUAGACUATT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:122). In each of these sequences, “TT” on the 3′-end is the overhang. Following the transfection with those siRNAs, the 3T3-L1 cells were cultured for 72 hours, and their whole cell lysates were subjected to western blotting in the same manner as described above. As a negative control, siRNA (SEQ ID NO:123, 5′-AUCCGCGCGAUAGUACGUAdTdT-3′) (mftd. by B-Bridge) was used to transfect 3T3-L1 with.

The results are shown in FIG. 2(C). The figure is a set of autoradiograms showing the levels of histone modification and HP1γ expression when treated with an siRNA specific to each HP1 gene. It was found that trimethylation of histone 4HK20 and the expression of HP1γ protein closely correlate as seen in the figure.

3. Tendency in Terminal Differentiated Cells of Each Tissue

Examination was carried out to find out whether HP1γ protein and trimethylated K20 of histone H4 disappeared not only in differentiated adipocytes but also in terminal differentiated cells of various other tissues.

As tissue samples, fat, esophageal mucosa, skin tissues, and colon were employed. These tissues was examined for localization of HP1γ protein and trimethylated histone H4K20 (Met₃H4K20) by immunohistochemical analysis. Specifically, slices of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples were prepared from the above-mentioned tissues according to a conventional method, and then examined on an automatic immunostaining apparatus (product name: Ventana HX System Benchmark, mftd. by Ventana Medical Systems). Antibodies used were anti-human HP1γ monoclonal antibody and anti-Met₃H4K20 polyclonal antibody, which were applied after diluted to the ratios of 1:800 and 1:200, respectively (antibody:diluent). Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E staining) of each tissue was performed for histological examination.

The results are shown in FIG. 3. The figure is a set of photographs showing the result of immunostaining of the tissues. In the figure, the results are: (a-c) of adipose tissue, (d-f) of esophageal mucosa, (g-i) of dermal tissue, and (j-l) of colonic normal cells. The left column shows the result of H&E staining of the tissues, the center column the result of immunostaining of the tissues which visualizes localization of HP1γ, and the right column the result of immunostaining of the tissues which visualizes localization of Met₃H4K20.

Occurrence of HP1γ protein was confirmed in premature cells of the tissues (figure not presented). However, as shown in b and c of the figure, neither HP1γprotein nor Met3H4K20 was detected in mature adipocytes (terminal differentiated cells) in the adipose tissue, and, likewise, neither HP1γ protein nor Met₃H4K20 was detected in terminal differentiated cells in the esophageal mucosa or the dermal tissue, as shown in e, f, h and i of the figure. Moreover, as shown in k and l of the figure, neither HP1γ protein nor Met₃H4K20 was detected on the surface of differentiated mucosa of the colonic tissue. These results indicates that the disappearance of HP1γ protein and Met₃H4K20 is related to the differentiation of the cells regardless of which tissue the cells belong to. HP1γ protein is thought to be bound to methylated K20 residues of histone H4 and bind to Suv4-20h1, Sub4-20h2 and/or histone methyl transferase. Thus, the molecular interaction between HP1γ gene and histone H4K20 is thought to be a key mechanism to cell differentiation.

4. Enhanced Expression of HP1γ Protein in Human Malignant Tumors

Human various malignant tumors (cancers) were examined for expression of HP1γ protein and trimethylation levels of histone H4K20.

Tissue samples of malignant tumors employed were those of esophageal cancer, uterine cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and myxoid liposarcoma, which had been surgically excised (n=26). These cells were examined for localization of HP1γ protein and trimethylated histone H4K20 (Met₃H4K20) by immunohistochemical staining in the same manner as described in “3.” above.

Typical examples of these results are shown in FIG. 4-1, FIG. 4-2, and FIG. 4-3. These figures are photographs showing the results of immunostaining of the malignant tumors. In these figure, “H&E” indicates the results of H&E staining, “HP1γ” the results of staining which reveals the localization of HP1γ protein, and “TriMeH4K20” the results of staining which reveals the localization of TriMeH4K20 (Met₃H4K20). As shown in the figures, HP1γ protein was detected in the cell nuclei of all the cell samples of malignant tumors, and the same result was obtained also in the other samples, which are not presented in figures (n=26). Furthermore, trimethylated K20 of histone H4 was detected in 17 cases out of these 26 case samples.

As shown in “3.” above, a correlation was found between the expression of HP1γ protein and trimethylation of histone H4K20 in normal differentiated cells. For example, there was a correlation that when HP1γ protein was found positive, trimethylation was also found positive in the undifferentiated cells. On the other hand, in the differentiated cells there was a correlation that where HP1γ was found negative, trimethylation was also found negative. In contrast to this, with malignant tumor cells, as shown in FIG. 4, there are many cases in which HP1γ protein was detected (positive) but histone trimethylation of H4K20 was found negative. Thus, it is thought to be characteristic of malignant tumor cells that the tie between the expression of HP1γ protein and trimethylation of histone H4K20 seen in normal cells is dissociated. The results indicate that normal differentiated cells and tumor cells can be distinguished from each other by detecting HP1γ protein.

It has already been reported that the loss of trimethylated histone H4K20 is a notable characteristic of cancer cells (Non-patent document 8). Considering this in combination with the aforementioned results obtained in normal differentiated cells, it must be difficult, by detection of trimethylation of histone H4K20 alone, to distinguish between normal differentiated cells and malignant tumor cells. However, as aforementioned, there is a tendency that HP1γ protein is found negative in normal differentiated cells and positive in malignant tumor cells. Therefore, while a loss of trimethylation of histone H4K20 reported so far alone will not serve to distinguish tumor cells, further detection of the expression of HP1γ will allow one to identify cells as being normal ones if the expression of HP1γ in them has been reduced, and tumor cells if the expression of HP1γ has been increased.

Example 2 Inhibition of Proliferation of Malignant Tumor Cells by Means of Suppression of HP1γ Expression Using RNA Interference

The suppressive effect of siRNAs on proliferation of malignant tumor cells was examined.

Malignant tumor cells employed were: human cell lines DLD-1, HCT116 and HT-29 (colon cancer); MKN1 and MKN28 (gastric cancer); HeLa and SiHa (uterine cervical cancer); NCI-H23 (lung cancer); and 402/91 and 2645/94 (myxoid liposarcoma). These cells were transfected with 5 nM or 50 nM of a double-stranded siRNA oligonucleotide (SEQ ID NO:124: 5′-UGACAAACCAAGAGGAUUUdTdT-3′, mftd. by B-Bridge), which corresponds to human HP1γ gene, with HiPerFect reagent (product name, mftd. by Qiagen) according to the manual attached to the reagent. The siRNA presented as SEQ ID NO:124 is the one indicated as #62 (sense strand of SEQ ID NO:1, antisense strand of SEQ ID NO:253) in Table 2D, on the 3′-end of which is attached an overhang consisting of two thymidine (T) bases. As a negative control, the siRNA mentioned above in “2.(3)” (SEQ ID NO:123: 5′-AUCCGCGCGAUAGUACGUAdTdT-3′) (mftd. by B-Bridge) was used in the same manner to transfect 3T3-L1. After transfection, the cells were cultured for four days as aforementioned in accordance with the type of the cells, and after treated with a cell staining dye (product name: trypan), counted for viable cells on hemocytometer (product name “erythrometer”). Analyses were performed three times for each cancer cell types. As a control, siRNA-unintroduced tumor cells of each cancer type were also counted in the same manner for viable cells.

The results are presented graphically in FIG. 5. The figure is a set of graphs showing the number of the viable cells (×10⁴ cells) among each type of tumor cells. In the figure, “UT” means the results in the cells which were not treated with siRNA, “A” the results of introduction of double-stranded siRNA to human HP1γ gene, and “C” the results of introduction of the negative control siRNA. As seen in the figure, by suppressing HP1γ gene through introduction of siRNA corresponding to human HP1γ gene, proliferation of tumor cells was inhibited. Thus, as proliferation of tumor cells is inhibited by suppressing the expression of HP1γ gene (expression of HP1γ protein) in tumor cells, HP1γ gene is very useful as a target gene for cancer treatment.

Example 3 Examination of the Suppressive Effect of siRNA on HP1γ Expression in Human Malignant Tumor Cells

Examination was performed of siRNAs which are specific to human HP1γ on their suppressive effect on human HP1γ gene expression. SiRNAs employed were: #17 (sense strand: SEQ ID NO:49, antisense strand: SEQ ID NO:208), #62 (sense strand: SEQ ID NO: 1, antisense strand: SEQ ID NO:253), and #89 (sense strand: SEQ ID NO:74, antisense strand: SEQ ID NO:280) presented in Table 2A-F, each of which had two deoxythymidine nucleotides(dTdT) as the 3′-overhang sequences, and which are shown as g-1 to g-3 siRNAs in FIG. 6, as well as a mixture of the three (Mix), and human malignant tumor cells transfected with them were examined for any suppression of human HP1γ expression. Malignant tumor cells employed were human cancer cell line DLD-1, which were transfected with each of the siRNAs (5 nM) or their mixture (5 nM each) in the same manner as described in Example 2. As a negative control, siRNA (SEQ ID NO:123) (mftd. by B-Bridge) described in “2.(3)” above was used. After transfection, culture was performed as described in Example 2, and the potency of HP1γ expression was examined by western blotting 3 and 5 days after the start of the culture. The results are shown in FIG. 6.

As evident from FIG. 6, it is confirmed that all the human HP1γ-specific g-1 to g-3 siRNAs strongly inhibit the expression of HP1γ to a similar degree to one another, and that their effect becomes all the more notable with the lapse of days. Further, the mixture of these siRNAs (total concentration being triple) exhibited still more notable effect. On the other hand, the negative control, mouse siRNA, did not show any inhibitory effect. These results indicate that the above-mentioned human HP1γ-specific siRNAs do work specifically to human HP1γ gene as expected, and that their inhibitory effects on HP1γ expression are highly potent. In the figure, “UT DLD-1” indicates the untreated control.

Example 4 Examination of the Therapeutic Effect on Cancer In Vivo

Nude mice were transplanted with human malignant tumor cells, and the inhibitory effect of siRNAs of the present invention on the proliferation of them was examined. Namely, nude mice (3 animals per group) were subcutaneously transplanted with 1×10⁶ cultured DLD-1 cells, cells originating from human colorectal cancer. One week after the transplantation, when the cancer had grown to a sufficient size under the skin, (a) the animals of the control group was injected, at the site of tumor, with a mixture solution of one μL of a 10 μM negative control siRNA, 2 μL of Oligofectamine (mftd. by Invitrogen) and 89 μL Opti-MEM (mftd. by Invitrogen), (b) the animals of the test agent-injected group were injected with a mixture solution of one μL of a 10 μM human HP1γ-specific siRNA (SEQ ID NO:124), 2 μl, of Oligofectamine (Invitrogen) and 89 μl, of Opti-MEM I (mftd. by Invitrogen), and (c) the animals of the test agent externally-applied group were externally applied with a preparation which was a cream containing human HP1γ-specific siRNA (SEQ ID NO:124). The cream was prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of the siRNA with a roughly equal weight of neutral fat, and stirring, in the presence of a minute amount of a surfactant and with warming, the mixture to homogeneity. Then, these preparations were administered alike at the interval of three days. Observation of the animals at their cancer-transplanted site was performed for 22 days after the transplantation. The results are shown in FIG. 7.

As seen in FIG. 7, while a rapid growth of the tumor was observed under the skin of the control agent-administered animals, the tumor growth was notably suppressed in either of the test agent-injected group or the test agent externally-applied group. And according to the microscopic examination of HE-stained slices of the tumors 22 days after the start of the observation, tumor cells were found necrosed in the tumors to which the cream was externally applied. In contrast, no necrosis of cells was observed in the control group which was injected with the negative control.

The results shown above demonstrate the usefulness of the HP1γ protein as a cancer cell identification marker, and further the usefulness of the human HP1γ-specific siRNAs of the present invention as cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents to various cancers, and also as an agent for cancer treatment.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

By the method for identification of cancer cells according to the present invention, it is possible to distinguish between cancer cells and normal cells by detecting the presence of HP1γ protein, the identification marker, in the cells. Further, the cancer identification marker according to the present invention, unlike conventions ones, makes it possible to determine whether the cells being examined are cancer cells or not, without regard to the cancer cell types. Moreover, of the HP1γ gene expression inhibitors according to the present invention, the human HP1γ-specific siRNAs can be used for the treatment of a wide variety of human cancers because they inhibit growth of cancers in general regardless of their types. 

1. A method for identifying a cell presented for examination as either being a cancer cell or a non-cancer cell, comprising the steps of detecting of expression of HP1γ in the cell presented for examination, and identifying the cell as being a cancer cell if expression of HP1γ is detected in the cell, and as being a non-cancer cell if no expression of HP1γ is detected in the cell.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cancer cell is an epithelial cancer cell and/or a non-epithelial cancer cell of a mammalian animal including a human, and wherein the HP1γ is HP1γ of the mammalian animal.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cell presented for examination is a human cell and the HP1γ is human HP1γ.
 4. A cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent consisting of an inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression.
 5. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 4, wherein the cancer cell is an epithelial cancer cell and/or a non-epithelial cancer cell of a mammalian animal including a human, and wherein the HP1γ is HP1γ of the mammalian animal.
 6. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 4, wherein the inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression is an siRNA specific to HP1γ gene or an antisense DNA specific to HP1γ gene.
 7. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 4, wherein the cancer cell is a human cancer cell, and wherein the HP1γ gene is human HP1γ gene.
 8. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 7, wherein the inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression is an siRNA comprising at least one of the double-stranded RNAs #1 to #106 each of which comprises a corresponding RNA strand set forth in the 5′ to 3′ direction in the following Tables 1A to 1F: TABLE 1A SEQ ID NO: Sequence #1 39 CAACAAAACUACAUUGCAA 192 UUGCAAUGUAGUUUUGUUG #2 127 AAAACAGAAUGGAAAGAGU 193 ACUCUUUCCAUUCUGUUUU #3 40 AAACAGAAUGGAAAGAGUA 194 UACUCUUUCCAUUCUGUUU #4 128 AACAGAAUGGAAAGAGUAA 195 UUACUCUUUCCAUUCUGUU #5 41 CAGAAUGGAAAGAGUAAAA 196 UUUUACUCUUUCCAUUCUG #6 129 AAAAAGUUGAAGAGGCAGA 197 UCUGCCUCUUCAACUUUUU #7 130 AGUUGAAGAGGCAGAGCCU 198 AGGCUCUGCCUCUUCAACU #8 43 UUGAAGAGGCAGAGCCUGA 199 UCAGGCUCUGCCUCUUCAA #9 44 AGGCAGAGCCUGAAGAAUU 200 AAUUCUUCAGGCUCUGCCU #10 45 GGCAGAGCCUGAAGAAUUU 201 AAAUUCUUCAGGCUCUGCC #11 46 CUGAAGAAUUUGUCGUGGA 202 UCCACGACAAAUUCUUCAG #12 47 UGAAGAAUUUGUCGUGGAA 203 UUCCACGACAAAUUCUUCA #13 48 AAGAAUUUGUCGUGGAAAA 204 UUUUCCACGACAAAUUCUU #14 131 AGAAUUUGUCGUGGAAAAA 205 UUUUUCCACGACAAAUUCU #15 132 UGUCGUGGAAAAAGUACUA 206 UAGUACUUUUUCCACGACA #16 133 UGGAAAAAGUACUAGAUCG 207 CGAUCUAGUACUUUUUCCA #17 49 GGAAAAAGUACUAGAUCGA 208 UCGAUCUAGUACUUUUUCC #18 50 AGUACUAGAUCGACGUGUA 209 UACACGUCGAUCUAGUACU

TABLE 1B SEQ ID NO: Sequence #19 51 AGAUCGACGUGUAGUGAAU 210 AUUCACUACACGUCGAUCU #20 134 GACGUGUAGUGAAUGGGAA 211 UUCCCAUUCACUACACGUC #21 52 ACGUGUAGUGAAUGGGAAA 212 UUUCCCAUUCACUACACGU #22 53 AGUGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAA 213 UUCCACUUUCCCAUUCACU #23 135 GUGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAAU 214 AUUCCACUUUCCCAUUCAC #24 54 UGAAUGGGAAAGUGGAAUA 215 UAUUCCACUUUCCCAUUCA #25 136 UUCCUGAAGUGGAAGGGAU 216 AUCCCUUCCACUUCAGGAA #26 137 UCCUGAAGUGGAAGGGAUU 217 AAUCCCUUCCACUUCAGGA #27 138 CUGAAGUGGAAGGGAUUUA 218 UAAAUCCCUUCCACUUCAG #28 139 GUGGAAGGGAUUUACAGAU 219 AUCUGUAAAUCCCUUCCAC #29 140 UGGAAGGGAUUUACAGAUG 220 CAUCUGUAAAUCCCUUCCA #30 141 AUUUACAGAUGCUGACAAU 221 AUUGUCAGCAUCUGUAAAU #31 142 GCUGACAAUACUUGGGAAC 222 GUUCCCAAGUAUUGUCAGC #32 143 UGACAAUACUUGGGAACCU 223 AGGUUCCCAAGUAUUGUCA #33 55 CUUGGGAACCUGAAGAAAA 224 UUUUCUUCAGGUUCCCAAG #34 144 UUGGGAACCUGAAGAAAAU 225 AUUUUCUUCAGGUUCCCAA #35 56 CAGAAUUGAUUGAAGCGUU 226 AACGCUUCAAUCAAUUCUG #36 57 AGAAUUGAUUGAAGCGUUU 227 AAACGCUUCAAUCAAUUCU #37 145 UGAUUGAAGCGUUUCUUAA 228 UUAAGAAACGCUUCAAUCA

TABLE 1C SEQ ID NO: Sequence #38 146 GUUUCUUAACUCUCAGAAA 229 UUUCUGAGAGUUAAGAAAC #39 58 UCAGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAA 230 UUCUUUGCCAGCUUUCUGA #40 59 CAGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAA 231 UUUCUUUGCCAGCUUUCUG #41 147 AGAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAAA 232 UUUUCUUUGCCAGCUUUCU #42 60 GAAAGCUGGCAAAGAAAAA 233 UUUUUCUUUGCCAGCUUUC #43 148 UGGCAAAGAAAAAGAUGGU 234 ACCAUCUUUUUCUUUGCCA #44 61 GCAAAGAAAAAGAUGGUAC 235 GUACCAUCUUUUUCUUUGC #45 62 CAAAGAAAAAGAUGGUACA 236 UGUACCAUCUUUUUCUUUG #46 149 AAUCUUUAUCUGACAGUGA 237 UCACUGUCAGAUAAAGAUU #47 63 GUGAAUCUGAUGACAGCAA 238 UUGCUGUCAUCAGAUUCAC #48 150 GAAUCUGAUGACAGCAAAU 239 AUUUGCUGUCAUCAGAUUC #49 151 GAUGACAGCAAAUCAAAGA 240 UCUUUGAUUUGCUGUCAUC #50 152 GACAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGA 241 UCUUCUUUGAUUUGCUGUC #51 64 ACAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGAA 242 UUCUUCUUUGAUUUGCUGU #52 153 CAGCAAAUCAAAGAAGAAA 243 UUUCUUCUUUGAUUUGCUG #53 154 GCAAAUCAAAGAAGAAAAG 244 CUUUUCUUCUUUGAUUUGC #54 66 UCAAAGAAGAAAAGAGAUG 245 CAUCUCUUUUCUUCUUUGA #55 155 GAAGAAAAGAGAUGCUGCU 246 AGCAGCAUCUCUUUUCUUC #56 156 AGAAAAGAGAUGCUGCUGA 247 UCAGCAGCAUCUCUUUUCU

TABLE 1D SEQ ID NO: Sequence #57 67 GAAAAGAGAUGCUGCUGAC 248 GUCAGCAGCAUCUCUUUUC #58 157 AAAGAGAUGCUGCUGACAA 249 UUGUCAGCAGCAUCUCUUU #59 68 AAGAGAUGCUGCUGACAAA 250 UUUGUCAGCAGCAUCUCUU #60 69 GCUGACAAACCAAGAGGAU 251 AUCCUCUUGGUUUGUCAGC #61 158 CUGACAAACCAAGAGGAUU 252 AAUCCUCUUGGUUUGUCAG #62 1 UGACAAACCAAGAGGAUUU 253 AAAUCCUCUUGGUUUGUCA #63 159 ACCAAGAGGAUUUGCCAGA 254 UCUGGCAAAUCCUCUUGGU #64 160 AGGAUUUGCCAGAGGUCUU 255 AAGACCUCUGGCAAAUCCU #65 161 UGCCAGAGGUCUUGAUCCU 256 AGGAUCAAGACCUCUGGCA #66 162 CCAGAGGUCUUGAUCCUGA 257 UCAGGAUCAAGACCUCUGG #67 163 AGGUCUUGAUCCUGAAAGA 258 UCUUUCAGGAUCAAGACCU #68 164 GUCUUGAUCCUGAAAGAAU 259 AUUCUUUCAGGAUCAAGAC #69 165 UCUUGAUCCUGAAAGAAUA 260 UAUUCUUUCAGGAUCAAGA #70 166 CCACAGACAGCAGUGGAGA 261 UCUCCACUGCUGUCUGUGG #71 167 CACAGACAGCAGUGGAGAA 262 UUCUCCACUGCUGUCUGUG #72 168 ACAGACAGCAGUGGAGAAU 263 AUUCUCCACUGCUGUCUGU #73 70 AGACAGCAGUGGAGAAUUG 264 CAAUUCUCCACUGCUGUCU #74 169 GUGGAGAAUUGAUGUUUCU 265 AGAAACAUCAAUUCUCCAC #75 170 GAGAAUUGAUGUUUCUCAU 266 AUGAGAAACAUCAAUUCUC

TABLE 1E SEQ ID NO: Sequence #76 171 GAAUUGAUGUUUCUCAUGA 267 UCAUGAGAAACAUCAAUUC #77 71 CUCAUGAAAUGGAAAGAUU 268 AAUCUUUCCAUUUCAUGAG #78 172 CAUGAAAUGGAAAGAUUCA 269 UGAAUCUUUCCAUUUCAUG #79 173 UGAAAUGGAAAGAUUCAGA 270 UCUGAAUCUUUCCAUUUCA #80 174 GGAAAGAUUCAGAUGAGGC 271 GCCUCAUCUGAAUCUUUCC #81 175 GAAAGAUUCAGAUGAGGCA 272 UGCCUCAUCUGAAUCUUUC #82 176 AAGAUUCAGAUGAGGCAGA 273 UCUGCCUCAUCUGAAUCUU #83 72 CAGACUUGGUGCUGGCGAA 274 UUCGCCAGCACCAAGUCUG #84 177 AGACUUGGUGCUGGCGAAA 275 UUUCGCCAGCACCAAGUCU #85 178 ACUUGGUGCUGGCGAAAGA 276 UCUUUCGCCAGCACCAAGU #86 179 GGUGCUGGCGAAAGAGGCA 277 UGCCUCUUUCGCCAGCACC #87 180 UGGCGAAAGAGGCAAAUAU 278 AUAUUUGCCUCUUUCGCCA #88 73 GCGAAAGAGGCAAAUAUGA 279 UCAUAUUUGCCUCUUUCGC #89 74 CGAAAGAGGCAAAUAUGAA 280 UUCAUAUUUGCCUCUUUCG #90 181 AGGCAAAUAUGAAGUGUCC 281 GGACACUUCAUAUUUGCCU #91 182 GCAAAUAUGAAGUGUCCUC 282 GAGGACACUUCAUAUUUGC #92 183 AAUAUGAAGUGUCCUCAAA 283 UUUGAGGACACUUCAUAUU #93 184 CCUCAAAUUGUAAUUGCUU 284 AAGCAAUUACAAUUUGAGG #94 185 AGAGAGACUAACUUGGCAU 285 AUGCCAAGUUAGUCUCUCU and

TABLE 1F SEQ ID NO: Sequence #95 186 GAGAGACUAACUUGGCAUU 286 AAUGCCAAGUUAGUCUCUC #96 187 GCAUUCUUGUCCAGAAGAU 287 AUCUUCUGGACAAGAAUGC #97 188 GUCCAGAAGAUGAAGCUCA 288 UGAGCUUCAUCUUCUGGAC #98 189 UCCAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAA 289 UUGAGCUUCAUCUUCUGGA #99 75 CAGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUA 290 UAUUGAGCUUCAUCUUCUG #100 190 AGAAGAUGAAGCUCAAUAA 291 UUAUUGAGCUUCAUCUUCU #101 83 GAUAAUCCCUUCAAGUUAA 292 UUAACUUGAAGGGAUUAUC #102 84 CCAUACAUUUCAAGUGAAA 293 UUUCACUUGAAAUGUAUGG #103 88 GACAAAUGCUAGUGUGUUU 294 AAACACACUAGCAUUUGUC #104 89 GGGCCAUUCCUUAGCAAAA 295 UUUUGCUAAGGAAUGGCCC #105 191 GGUCAUGAUGAAUGGAAUA 296 UAUUCCAUUCAUCAUGACC #106 95 CAGCAAAAGCCAGGAAGAA 297 UUCUUCCUGGCUUUUGCUG


9. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 8, wherein the double-stranded RNAs are selected from the group consisting of the double-stranded RNAs set forth as #5, #17, #35, #62, #89, #101, #102, #103, #104, #105 and #106 in Tables 1A to 1F.
 10. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 8, wherein the double-stranded RNAs are selected from the group consisting of the double-stranded RNAs set forth as #17, #62 and #89 in Tables 1A to 1F.
 11. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 8, wherein the siRNA has two-base overhangs on its both ends.
 12. The cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agent according to claim 8, wherein each of the overhangs is on the 3′ end of each of the strands forming the double-stranded RNA.
 13. A composition for the treatment of cancer in a mammal including a human comprising, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to claim
 6. 14. The composition for the treatment of cancer according to claim 13, wherein the cancer is cancer in a human, the HP1γ gene is human HP1γ gene, and the inhibitor compound of HP1γ gene expression is an siRNA specific to human HP1γ gene.
 15. The composition for the treatment of cancer in a human comprising, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to claim
 8. 16. A method for the treatment of cancer in a mammal including a human comprising administering an effective amount of one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to claim 6, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to the mammal including a human in need thereof.
 17. A method for the treatment of cancer in a human comprising administering an effective amount of one or more of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to claim 8, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to the human in need thereof.
 18. Use of one of the cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents according to claim 8, for the production of a composition for the treatment of human cancer.
 19. A method of screening for cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents comprising the steps of; bringing part of cancer cells into contact with candidate compounds, separately detecting expression of HP1γ gene in those cancer cells which were brought into contact with the candidate compounds and in those cancer cells which were not brought into contact with a candidate compound, determining whether or not HP1γ gene expression was inhibited in the cancer cells which were brought into contact with the candidate compounds by comparing the amount of expression of HP1γ gene in the cancer cells which were brought into contact with the candidate compounds with that in the cancer cells which were not brought into contact a candidate compound, selecting, as cancer cell proliferation inhibitor agents, those candidate compounds which were brought into contact with those cancer cells in which inhibition of the expression was found. 